UC-NRLF 


B    3    3E2    Mfi7 


fi?/^/s/s/S/S/S/S/3/S/S/3/S/Se/5/H/5/H/aS/3*E/5/3/5/2/S/Se/3/S/S/S/S/5/Fr| 


LIBRARY 

OF    THE 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


in/3/S/ 


THE    MARY    JUCKSCH    FUND 
Class 


HISTORY  OF  THE  POLK  ADMINISTRATION.— By  Lv- 
CIEN  B,  CHASE,  Member  of  the  Twenty-ninth  and  Thirtieth 
Congress.  8vo.,  pp.  512.  New  York  ;  George  P.  Putnam. 

OPINIONS  OF  THE  PIt£SS. 

THE  administration  of  Mr.  Polk  is 'probably  unsurpassed  by  any 
previous  one,  in  the  grandeur  of  its  enterprises,  or  the  brilliancy  of 
their  accomplishment.  The  conquest  of  Mexico,  the  acquisition  of 
California,  the  settlement  of  the  Northern  Boundary,  the  adoption 
of  a  new  Commercial  system,  the  Reduction  of  Postage,  and  the 
opening  of  new  and  vast  routes  of  postal  communication,  belong 
to  a  class  of  national  measures,  so  wide,  so  far-reaching,  and  BO 
weighty,  that  their  progress  attracted  every  eye,  and  their  adoption 
touched  every  interest.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  influence  of 
Mr.  Folk's  administration  is  so  vast,  so  immeasurable,  and  even, 
as  yet,  so  partially  developed.  Amid  such  gigantic  operations, 
there  were  likewise  mistakes  and  errors,  which  were  serious, 
widely  pervading,  though  never  disastrous.  To  take  up  such  a 
subject,  and  do  justice  to  its  merits,  in  a  single  volume,  requires  a 
comprehensiveness,  and  grasp  of  intellect,  a  condensation  of  thought, 
a  force  and  energy  of  style,  which  belongs  only  to  the  most  culti 
vated  and  talented  writers.  Highly  as  we  have  ever  esteemed  the 
abilities  of  the  author  of  this  interesting  volume,  we  must  confess 
that  we  were  not  prepared  for  such  a  successful  and  brilliant  ac 
complishment  of  his  great  task  as  he  has  here  presented  to  us. 

The  great  measures  of  Mr.  Polk"s  term  ;  their  nature  and  ex 
tent  ;  the  causes  that  led  to  their  introduction  ;  the  embarrassments 
and  obstructions  that  beset  their  progress ;  the  difficulties  that 
were  vanquished,  and  the  circumstances  of  success,  that  were  even 
created  by  foresight  and  judgment ;  their  successful  achievement, 
with  the  strong  approbation  of  the  nation,  are  pourtrayed  with  a 
fullness,  a  discrimination,  and  a  justness,  which  renders  this  work 
not  only  the  most  correct  and  best  general  history  which  we  have 
of  that  period,  but  probably  places  it  beyond  the  reach  of  a  compe 
titor.  The  statement  of  facts  appears  to  be  prepared  with  much 
care,  as  it  regards  their  correctness  ;  and  for  this  the  author  pos 
sessed  unusual  advantages,  as  he  was  a  distinguished  member  of 
Congress  during  the  entire  period.  The  work  is  remarkably  free 
from  partizan  bias,  and  the  errors  of  Mr.  Polk  are  related  without 
qualification  or  extenuation.  It  is  also  entirely  free  from  anything 
like  bitter,  or  party  epithets,  and  the  dignity  of  the  historian  is  pre 
served  throughout.  As  a  historical  work,  in  itself;  as  a  history  of 
a  most  important  period  in  our  national  existence  ;  as  a  collection 
even  of  some  of  the  most  interesting  events  in  our  career,  deline 
ated  with  much  urbanity  and  graphic  richness  of  style,  this  volume 
should  be  sought  and  obtained  by  every  patriotic  American  citizen. 
— Hunt's  Merchants'  Magazine. 


ENGLISH  SERFDOM 


AND 


AMERICAN  SLAVERY: 


OR, 


OURSELVES-AS  OTHERS  SEE  US, 


BY  LUCIEN  B.  CHASE, 

AUTHOR   OF 
'  THE   HISTORY    OF   THE   POLK    ADMINISTRATION." 


"The  celebrated  saying  of  Sir  Richard  Fletcher,  uttered  more  than  two  hundred 
years  ago,  '  Let  me  write  the  ballads  for  a  people,  and  I  care  not  who  make  the  laws,1 
might  be  transposed  by  saying — Let  me  write  the  fictions  for  a  people,  and  I  cure  not 
who  make  the  speeches." — NATIONAL  INTELLIGKNCER. 


•*Now  ktep  1  ftrih  to  vhip  bypoc.'isy.'' — JSU 


NEW  YORK: 
H.    LONG    &    BROTHER, 

43     ANN-STREET, 


ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  Year  One  Thousand 
Eight  Hundred  and  Fifty-four,  by  LUCIEN"  B.  CHASE,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


TO   THE 

ARISTOCRATIC  LADIES  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN 

IS  DEDICATED  THIS  WORK, 

Wherein  the  author  portrays  the  graceful  equanimity  with  which  they 
regard  the  horrible  condition  of  the  substratum  of  English  society. 
Credit  is  also  very  properly  given  them  for  discovering  fascinations 
in  the  sooty  progeny  of  Ham — that  excellent  gentleman,  and 
especial  favorite  of  the  Almighty — which  may  vainly  be 
looked  for  in  their  own  vulgar  race  :   fascinations 
that  have  aroused  the  admiration  of  England's 
too  susceptible  Dames,  and  awakened  the 
slumbering  goodness  of  her  benevolent 
politicians,  to  such  a  painful  degree, 
that  they  are  disqualified  for  a 
performance  of  those  charit 
able  obligations,  which 
are  imposed  upon  them,  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  English  Serfdom. 


235613 


PREFACE. 


THE  world  is  indebted  to  the  philanthropic  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  who  frequent  Almacks,  and  lead  London  fashion, 
for  several  remarkable  improvements  upon  the  example  set 
by  the  Redeemer.  Their  sensibilities  are  so  much  affected 
by  the  presence  of  suffering,  that  they  take  especial  care  to 
avoid  it.  At  the  same  time  they  discreetly  compromise 
with  conscience  by  an  ostentatious  bestowal  of  alms  upon 
distant,  and,  therefore^  more  worthy  objects. 

Our  Saviour  did  not  avail  himself  of  an  expedient  which 
commends  itself  to  persons  of  less  goodness,  but  greater 
tact.  With  him,  charity  began  at  home;  with  them,  a 
commencement  there,  would  preclude  the  hope  of  its  ever 
reaching  far  enough  to  swell  into  notoriety ;  especially 
where  it  has  so  many  objects  to  relieve,  as  can  be  found 
upon  every  square  acre  of  the  British  empire.  And  hence, 
the  folly  of  making  the  attempt.  Again,  Jesus  taught 
humility.  Now  humility  sits  very  uncomfortably  upon  a 
proud  man,  or  woman  either,  and  hence,  it  is  much  more 
agreeable  for  them  to  asseverate  their  own  purity,  and  the 
sinfulness  of  the  "rest  of  mankind."  They  have  made  a 
decided  improvement  upon  the  teachings  of  the  Saviour,  in 
this  regard ;  for  they  graciously  condescend  to  point  out, 
and  with  commendable  precision,  wherein  other  nations,  and 
especially  the  slavery-loving  people  of  the  United  States, 
are  far  less  holy  than  they  are.  The  Redeemer  was  cele 
brated  for  modesty  as  well  as  meekness;  both  of  which 
traits  were,  perhaps,  eminently  suited  to  his  time,  and  to  his 


vi  PREFACR 

divine  character.  The  English  nobility,  however,  have 
effected  changes,  in  this  particular,  no  less  striking  than 
appropriate.  He  rode  into  Jerusalem,  on  a  certain  occa 
sion,  upon  the  back  of  an  animal,  whose  venerable  appear 
ance  cannot  fail  to  win  our  respect,  while  the  distinguished 
services  rendered  by  his  ancestors,  of  which  mention  is 
made  in  suitable  and  flattering  terms,  by  history,  sacred  as 
well  as  profane,  places  him  in  the  very  front  rank  of  four- 
footed  animals.  But  now.  Timothy,  Lord  Snizzle,  and  Sir 
Pertinax  McFlumrnux,  would  ride  their  own  legs  from  Lon 
don  to  Newcastle,  rather  than  be  seen  mounted  upon 
a  respectable  donkey,  in  the  centre  of  Hyde  Park. 

There  is  this  striking  reason  for  a  modification  of  the 
crude  morality  of  the  Son  of  God.  He  was  born  in  a  man 
ger,  a  place  that  would,  of  course,  preclude  him  from  estab 
lishing  rules  for  the  government  of  those  who  consider 
poverty  highly  reprehensible.  His  circumstances  or  his 
inclinations  were  such,  that  he  neither  rejoiced  in.jpurpleand 
fine  linen,  or  indulged  in  the  pleasures  of  the  table.  There 
is  a  marked  contrast  between  his  humble  career  and  the 
dashing  life  of  the  English  nobility.  There  is  a  manifold 
propriety  in  the  free  indulgence  by  the  latter  in  extrava 
gance  and  folly,  else  how  could  they  create  a  sensation,  not 
having  a  sufficient  amount  of  brains  wherewithal  to  do  so. 
Their  only  chance  of  winning  celebrity,  is  by  expending 
with  liberal  hands  the  money  which  is  moistened  by  the 
tears  of  the  poor — tears  that  are  entitled  to  no  sympathy, 
from  the  aristocracy,  because  they  do  not  shed  them  ! 

But  seriously — no  thoughtful  mind  can  fail  to  observe, 
the  zeal  with  which  the  nobility  and  politicians  of  England 
seek  to  withdraw  public  condemnation  from  their  own  poli 
tical  and  social  organization,  by  concentrating  it  upon  the 
peculiar  institution  of  the  southern  states. 

Leaving  the  tyranny  un rebuked,  which  has  debased  the 
spirit,  and  broken  the  constitutions  of  their  lower  classes, 
they  assail  the  Americans  with  a  vindictiveness  which  is  only 
equalled  by  its  unblushing  effrontery.  Overlooking  the  ab- 


PREFACE.  vii 

solute  control  of  the  Czar  of  Russia  over  life  and  death, 
through  the  terrible  agency  of  the  halter,  the  knout,  and  the 
snows  of  Siberia,  they  launch  their  curses  against  those  who 
are  allied  to  them  by  the  bonds  of  a  communism  of  language, 
of  interest,  and  of  blood. 

What  is  the  motive  for  this  energetic  and  persevering  cru 
sade  against  a  people  who,  so  far  from,  having  wronged  them, 
are  furnishing  cotton  for  their  manufactories,  employment 
for  their  laborers,  food  for  their  starving  population,  and 
homes  for  those  who  are  driven  by  famine  from  their  native 
land  ? 

Recognizing  with  apparent  sincerity  the  existence  of  those 
ties  which  trade  and"  commerce  would  rivet  more  closely 
every  succeeding  year  but  for  an  impertinent  interference  in 
the  domestic  affairs  of  the  great  republic,  why  is  it  that  they 
assail  their  transatlantic  brethren  with  the  combined  power 
of  money  and  abuse  ? 

The  motive  is  indubitable.  They  have  everything  to  gain 
and  nothing  to  lose  from  the  example  of  Russia,  and  every 
thing  to  lose  and  nothing  to  gain  from  the  example  of  the 
United  States.  The  principles  upon  which  the  constitution 
of  the  model  republic  is  based,  are  not  confined  to  the  west 
ern  continent.  They  are  wielding  a  silent  but  irresistible 
influence  upon  the  masses  of  the  old  world,  who  are  awaken 
ing  to  the  grand  idea  that  absolute  power  is  vested  in  the 
people  alone.  To  save  their  rotten  institutions  from  crumb 
ling  beneath  the  tread  of  the  Goddess  of  Liberty,  her  great 
exemplar  must  be  destroyed. 

Therefore,  they  leave  their  own  hemisphere  to  labor  be 
neath  a  load  of  oppression  which  cries  aloud  for  vengeance, 
while  they  cross  the  ocean  in  search  of  objects  upon  whom 
they  can  expend  their  sympathies,  and  shed  the  tears  of  com 
miseration.  Abolition  agents  are  sent  forth,  money  is  ex 
pended,  the  press  of  London  groans  under  the  weight  of 
misrepresentation  and  calumny,  and  the  pulpit  and  the  forum 
swarm  with  Pharisees,  who  thank  God  because  they  are  not 
like  other  men.  To  cap  the  climax  of  absurdity,  the  most 


PREFACE.  TiH 

illustrious  of  England's  Aristocracy,  and  the  favorite  of  her 
Queen,  indulges  herself  in  the  agreeable  pastime  of  chaper 
oning  a  n egress  ! 

The  patience  of  a  long-suffering  people  is  exhausted. 
There  is  a  point  beyond  which  detraction  cannot  go  unre- 
buked.  There  is  a  period  of  time  when  the  assailed  will 
turn  upon  their  foes.  That  point  of  time  is  the  present,  and 
by  the  powerful  aid  of  facts,  the  author  has,  in  the  following 
pages,  exposed  the  monstrous  iniquities  which  are  hourly 
perpetrated  by  the  slavery-hating  government  and  aristocra 
cy  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  with  the  trenchant  blade  of  truth 
has  assailed  cant  and  hypocrisy,  where  they  seek  to  entrench 
themselves  behind  Pharisaical  protestations,  a  false  religion, 
and  a  disreputable  philanthropy. 

New  York,  January,  1854. 


ENGLISH  SERFDOM  AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY. 

: .        -••-  -;•; 

CHAPTER  I.  ~ 

"Behind  the  master  walks,  builds  up  the  shocks."— THOMSON. 

THE  threatening  cloud  that  had  been  gathering  its  forces  in  the 
west,  urged  the  already  wearied  laborers  to  renewed  exertions. 
Shocks  of  wheat  thickly  studded  the  field,  but  there  yet  remained 
upon  the  earth  long  rows  of  gavels  ready  to  be  bound  into  sheaves. 
The  young  farmer  cast  frequent  and  anxious  glances  to  the  dark 
mass  that°  rose  like  a  moving  wa1!,  and  then,  by  his  voice  and 
example,  stimulated  his  companion  to  increased  activity.  But  the 
relentless  storm  heeded  not  his  imploring  countenance.  It  hurtled 
onward,  and  vivid  flashes  of  lightning  gleamed  along  the  base  of 
the  cloud  and  darted  into  the  blue  ether  above,  followed  by  quick, 
sharp  peals  of  thunder  that  increased  in  violence  as  they  rolled 
away  until  the  last  report  shook  the  earth.  Turning  his  eyes 
upward  to  the  summit  of  the  cloud,  his  vision  ranged  along  the 
broad  belt  of  whirling  vapor,  until  it  rested  at  the  point  where  the 
dark  mass  swept  along  the  ground.  There  his  gaze  was  riveted, 
and  a  look  of  awe  overspread  his  features.  Through  the  mist 
that  partly  shaded  the  body  of  the  cloud,  he  saw  that  the  storm 
was  raging  furiously.  Here  and  there  a  tree  was  twisted  off,  and 
the  root  o°f  a  cottage,  upon  a  neighboring  hill  was  carried  away. 
He  looked  toward  his  own  humble  dwelling— the  chimney  was 
thrown  down.  Folding  his  arms,  while  his  teeth  set  in  despair, 
he  saw  the  advance  guard  of  the  storm  sweep  up  the  ascent,  her 
alded  by  large  drops  of  rain.  As  it  reached  the  wheat-field,  it 
made  a  swoop,  and  those  shocks  that  had  been  reared  with  so 
much  labor  were  scattered  over  the  earth.  The  next  moment  the 
rain  descended  in  torrents. 

"  Becrorra !  Misther  Christie,  thaive  lift  divil  of  a  shock  standin' 
at  all  at  all." 

Christie  Kane  turned  gloomily  away,  and  without  seeking  shelter 
from  the  storm,  walked  slowly  out  of  the  field. 

"  No  wonder  the  lad  takes  it  to  heart,  for  we've  tried  hard  enough 
to  dry  this  batch  of  whate,  and  now,  be  me  sowl,  we  must  be  afther 
spreadin'  it  all  oot  again.  Never  mind,  we  poor  divils  have  only 
got  to  work  all  the  time ;  that's  some  comfort  ony  how.  So  here 
goes  for  a  dry  skin,  and  a  thatch  that  don't  lake." 

Saying  which,  Phelim  Savor  rapidly  proceeded  towards  the 
house,  dividing  his  thoughts  between  the  rain  that  beat  through  his 
tattered  hat,  and  the  song  that  had  pleased  him  so  much  at  the  last 


•'*<?  ;-  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

wake,  short  snatches  of  which  burst  from  his  lips  between  the 
peals  of  thunder. 

"  Be  the  holy  St.  Pathrick  but  the  rain,  bad  luck  to  it,  finds 
siveral  crivices  in  this  coat.  Never  mind,  if  it  lakes  now,  it  is  airy 
in  dry  weather,  that's  some  satisfaction,  ony  how. 

'  They  walked, 
And  talked. 
He  tormented. 
First  she  sighed, 
Then  consented 
To  be  his  bride.' 

"  Niver  a  dry  rag  will  Phalim  Savor  have  upon  his  back  in  the 
matter  of  ten  minutes." 

'  He  tormented. 
First  she  sighed, 
Then  consented — 
"  Arrah  !  that's  the  way  wid  the  darlints  : — 

To  be  his  bride.' 

"  Whoop,  wan't  that  a  smasher !  The  fayther  of  the  blacksmit' 
fraternity  is  forgin'  some  big  thunder  to-day,  onyhow — 
'  Then  consented.' 

"  Suzy  Gowrie,  what  dul  ye  think  of  this,"  said  Phelim,  as  he 
entered  the  house. 

"  It's  a  braw  storm,  ee'n  for  the  heelands.  But  where  is  Mr. 
Christie  ?" 

"  He's  offinded  bekase  the  wind  blowed  over  the  whate." 

"  It  did  not  show  mickle  care  in  its  course,  sure  enough." 

"  Nivir  mind  complaiuin',  Suzy.  It's  the  duty  of  the  lab'rer  to 
work  all  the  time.  Don't  the  praists  tell  us  that  we  must  be 
satisfied  wid  our  condition,  and  if  the  nobility  hiv  it  all  their  own 
way  in  this  world,  that,  perhaps,  we  shall  be  as  happy  as  thim  in 
the  nixt?" 

"  I  doan't  think  it  roight  for  half  of  the  human  family  to  work 
for  the  other  half;  and  you  know  I  doan't." 

"  Be  azy  now,  Miss  Gowrie  darlint,  don't  git  on  that  subject 
untwil  you  have  something  for  me  to  ate.  That's  a  Jewell  of  a 
gal  ;  cold  praties  and  bread.  Now,  let  me  rayson  the  matter  wid 
you.  Do  you  suppose  the  nobility  and  gintry  would  like  to  come 
out  of  their  iligant  houses,  into  the  hot  fields  and  bind  up  the 
shafes  of  whate  ?" 

"  Hoot !  what  a  question  !" 

"Well,  of  coorse  you  will  say  no.  An'  why  should  they? 
Wouldn't  the  sun  scorch  their  white  skin?  and  wouldn't  the  rough 
grain,  and  the  thru  ties,  too,  hurt  their  dilicate  hands  ?  Isn't  it 
azier  for  us,  who  are  accustomed  to  such  hardships,  to  labor  for 
thim,  than  for  such  gintlefolks  to  work  for  thimselves  ?  Come 
now,  Suzy,  ba  ginerous,  an'  admit  it." 

u  And  because  we  have  been  their  slaves,  shall  we  always  be  so  ? 
Oin't  we  all  flesh  and  blood  ?  If  we  receive  a  blow,  do  we  not 
feel  ?  If  we  are  cut,  do  .we  not  bleed  ?  If  we  are  hungry,  do  we 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  11 

not  want /ood?  If  we  cease  to  breathe,  do  we  not  die?  Hoot 
mon,  you  deserve  to  be  a  slave  !" 

And  Susan  Gowrie  proceeded  about  her  work  with  great  im 
petuosity. 

"  There  you  go  now,  Suzy,  there's  no  rayson  in  a  faymale, 
onyhow.  Now  see  here,  Suzy,  suppose  you  was  Ellen  Knowles, 
would  it  ba  the  likes  of  yez  that  would  be  plazed  to  scrub  the 
kitchen,  and  stan'  all  day  fernenst  the  fire?" 

Suzan  Gowrie  deigned  no  other  reply  save  the  indignation  that 
flashed  from  her  eyes. 

"  Havn't  they  been  towld  from  their  hinfancy^hat  they  hiv  a 
dervine  right  to  our  services ;  that  we  are  to  work  while  they  are 
not  to  do  a  hapertb,  and  when  they  hiv  such  expectations,  shall  we 
ba  afther  baing  so  mane  as  to  chate  thim  out  of  their  blissed 
rights  ?" 

The  blue  veins  were  swollen  upon  Susan's  forehead,  and  she 
replied  with  great  energy. 

"  An'  we,  every  mother's  chiel  of  us,  must  suffer  hunger,  disease, 
and  death,  to  gratify  the  lazy  aristocracy!  We  must  toil  and 
sweat  from  morning  till  night  to  minister  to  their  whims.  We 
must  broil  over  the  fire,  or  beneath  the  scorching  sun,  while  they 
roll  in  their  carriages,  or  recline  upon  their  couches!  Phelim 
Savor,  you  are  a  fool !" 

A  merry  twinkle  appeared  in  Phelim's  eyes,  during  the  nervous 
retort  of  the  girl,  but  the  reply  that  rose  A  his  lips  was  checked 
by  the  entrance  of  Christie  Kane,  whose  Gripping  garments  bore 
evidence  of  the  severity  of  the  storm.  Passing  througli  the  kitchen, 
he  entered  the  humble  sitting-room,  and  throwing  himself  into  a 
chair,  reclined  his  head  upon  his  hand. 

"  In  the  dumps  again,  are  ye  ?"  exclaimed  the  harsh  voice  of  a 
female. 

The  young  man  remained  silent. 

"  Christie  Kane !  am  I  always  to  see  you  gloomy  and  discon 
tented  ?  Ever  to  look  upon  a  frowning  brow,  and  hear  nothing  but 
complaints  ?"  continued  the  woman,  querulously. 

Still  he  deigned  no  reply. 

"  Come,  come,  Christie,"  she  said  more  kindly  ;  "  do  not  look  so 
disconsolate  ;  your  cousin  Ellen  is  in  the  other  room." 

A  momentary  smile  crossed  the  features  of  the  young  man,  and 
then  they  assumed  once  more  an  expression  of  deep  gloom. 

"  Mother,  my  patience  is  entirely  exhausted." 

"  Pooh  !  child  ;  compare  your  situation  with  that  of  your  neigh 
bors  :  is  it  not  far  better  ?" 

|  fc"  No  !  look  at  the  condition  of  the  upper  classes,  from  the  Duke 
of  Sunderland  to  Sir  William  Belthoven  :  what  occupation  have 
they  but  to  spend — often  in  wanton  extravagance — the  money  which 
is  earned  by  toil  and  suffering  ?" 

"  Yes,  but  see  how  many  there  are  who  are  not  so  fortunate  as 
ourselves.  Look  at  the  poor  families  in  our  parish.  They  can 
hardly  obtain  sufficient  food  to  keep  them  from  starvation." 

"  Aye,  that  is  the  result  of  the  accursed  political  system  which 
is  grinding  the  lower  classes — the  substratum — into  the  dust." 


12  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

**  What  would  you  do  ?"  , 

"  Do !  I  would  equalize  the  condition  of  the  people  ;  educate 
and  elevate  the  masses  ;  abolish  the  hunting-grounds  and  parks 
of  the  nobility,  and  surrender  them  to  the  plough  ;  reduce  the  sala 
ries  of  corrupt  public  officers  ;  curtail  the  benefices  of  avaricious 
clergy  ;  and  abolish  the  standing  army  by  rendering  its  existence 
unnecessary,  when  the  government  is  sustained  by  the  affection  of 
the  natiibn.  «Do  1  I  would  apply  the  knife  of  reform  to  the  social 
regulations  and  laws  of  England  !" 

The  door  was  opened,  and  a  girl  glided  into  the  room.  She  had 
numbered  eighteen  years,  and  her  form  was  round  and  well-devel 
oped.  Her  eyes  were  blue,  and  of  a  strange  expression.  While 
the  glance  of  Christie  Kane  was  directed  towards  her  they  were 
demurely  turned  to  the  floor,  but  no  sooner  was  his  look  withdrawn, 
than  a  cunning  look  gleamed  from  the  sidelong  glances  of  her 
eyes. 

The  features  of  the  young  man  softened  as  she  seated  herself  in 
the  chair  just  vacated  by  Mrs.  Kane. 

"  Ellen,  it  was  kind  of  you  to  come  over  when  the  sky  looked  so 
threatening.  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  Did  you  get  here  before  the 
rain  commenced  falling?" 

"  A  few  minutes,"  replied  the  sweet  voice  of  Ellen  Knowles,  as 
her  hand  rested  upon  that  portion  of  the  chair  nearest  to  Christie 
Kane. 

"  What  a  beautiful  ha£[,  Ellen,"  he  said,  softly,  as  he  placed  the 
point  of  his  fingers  upon  it. 

As  he  raised  his  eyes  to  her  own,  the  cunning  side-long  glance 
was  withdrawn.  He  started  to  his  feet,  and  turned  towards  the 
door. 

"  You  will  not  encounter  the  storm  again,  will  you,  cousin  Chris 
tie  ?  The  water  is  still  dripping  from  your  coat,"  said  Ellen's  gen 
tle  voice. 

"  The  rain  is  over,"  he  replied  gruffly,  as  he  stood  in  the  door 
way. 

"  Have  I  offended  you,  Christie  ?"  inquired  the  maiden,  as  a  tear 
gathered  in  her  mild  blue  eyes. 

,."  Oh,  no,  Ellen  ;  you  could  not,"  said  the  young  man,  as  he 
turned  frankly  toward  her.  "  Come,  will  you  not  walk  with  me  ? 
See  how  the  drops  of  rain  glisten  upon  the  trees.  I  will  show  you 
what  sad  havoc  the  storm  has  committed  in  my  wheat  field." 

"  Excuse  me,  Christie  ;  I  fear  the  damp  earth." 

"  Good-bye,  then,  Ellen." 

"  Good-bye,"  replied  the  gentle  voice. 

"  She  is  a  strange  girl,  and  I  am  half  afraid  of  her,"  muttered 
Christie  Kane,  as  he  emerged  from  the  house.  "  Why  is  mother 
so  anxious  for  me  to  marry  her  ?" 

The  storm  was  raging  still  far  to  the  east,  but  the  west  presented 
an  unclouded  sky.  Directing  his  steps  down  the  lane,  Christie  en 
tered  the  high  road  crossing  the  small  stream,  which  was  swollen 
by  the  rain.  He  was  proceeding  slowly  through  the  forest  that 
spanned  the  valley,  when  his  steps  were  arrested  by  a  carriage 
which  lay  in  the  middle  of  the  road  with  one  of  the  axle-trees  bro- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  18 

ken,  and  a  wheel  lying  upon  the  ground.  Looking  around  to  see 
what  caused  the  accident,  his  eyes  rested  upon  the  Ibrin  of  a  young 
lady,  who  was  standing  beneath  the  bending  trunk  of  a  large  oak, 
which  had  sheltered  her  from  the  storm.  The  maiden  gazed  half 
terrified  at  the  young  man,  but  observing  his  look  of  open  and  re- 
spectfut"  admiration,  the  warm  blood  returned  to  the  cheek  from 
whence  alarm  had  banished  it  ;  so  truly  can  the  gentler  sex  inter 
pret  the 'impression  which  their  loveliress  has  produced. 

Christie  advanced,  and  with  innate  courtesy  raised  his  hat. 

"  Will  you  suffer  me,  madame,  to  inquire  the  cause  of  your  mis 
fortune  ?" 

"  A  defective  axletree  ;"  and  the  young  rnan  thought  the  voice 
exceedingly  musical. 

"Will  you  allow  me  to  tender  my  services'?" 

"  They  will  hardly  be  required.  My  companion  has  been  absent 
at  least  half  an  hour,  for  another  carriage." 

"  But  I  shall  consider  it  a  great  favor  if  you  will  permit  me  to 
bring  a  conveyance.  I  am  certain  you  will  take  cold,  if  you  re 
main  long  exposed  to  this  damp  atmosphere  ;"  said  Christie,  plead 
ingly. 

A  smile  wreathed  the  lips  of  the  young  lady  at  the  earnestness 
of  the  stranger.  After  hesitating  a  moment,  she  replied, 

"  Very  well,  if  you  return  first,  perhaps — 

Christie  did  not  wait  to  hear  the  conclusion  of  the  sentence,  but 
with  a  gratified  look,  proceeded  rapidly  towards  the  cottage. 

By  the  exertions  of  Mr.  Savor,  the  dapple  grey  was  soon  har 
nessed  to  the  plain  gig,  and  having  changed  his  hat,  coat,  and 
boots,  and  donned  a  smart  pair  of  gloves,  Christie  Kane,  with  a 
flushed  countenance,  drove  rapidly  away. 

"  Why  didn't  he  ask  me  to  ride,  as  well  as  walk1?"  exclaimed 
Ellen,  sulkily. 

"  I  can't  tell  what  has  come  over  the  child.  He  has  changed 
for  the  worse  lately.  Formerly  he  was  so  gentle  and  obedient, 
and  now  he  is  morose  and  abstracted  ;"  replied  Mrs.  Kane. 

"  Would  yez  belave  it,"  said  Phelim  ;  "he  grumbles  bekase  the 
likes  of  us  hiv  to  support  the  nobility.  He  niver  wonst  remirnbers 
that  whilst  we  do  that  same,  we  live  ourselves  ;  whin  the  poor 
divils  who  are  starvin'  hiv  no  support  at  all  at  all.  But  even  they 
hiv  the  satisfaction  of  swelling  the  population  of  this  mighty 
koontry,  though  by  the  holy  St.  Pathrick  its  little  their  amaciated 
riggers  can  swell  it,  onyhovv.  What's  your  opinion,  Suzy  ?" 

Susan's  only  reply  was  a  look  of  mingled  pity  and  contempt. 

As  young  Kane  arrived  at  the  spot  where  he  had  left  the  lady, 
he  observed  an  equipage  approach  from  the  opposite  direction, 
from  which  a  young  gentleman  descended,  and  offering  his  arm  to 
the  maiden,  observed  : 

"  I  hope  you  have  been  put  to  no  inconvenience  by  my  long 
absence." 

"And  if  I  have  not,  it  surely  cannot  be  because  sufficient  time 
has  not  elapsed  since  your  departure,"  she  replied,  tartly. 

"  I  do  not  deserve  that  sarcasm,"  he  said,  reproachfully ;  "  I 
made  all  possible  haste.  But  come,  do  not  delay  any  longer." 


14  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"I  shall  ride  in  this  conveyance,"  and  the  maiden  approached 
Christie's  vehicle,  disclosing  as  she  did  so,  the  most  bewitching 
little  foot  and  ankle,  encased  in  the  most  bewitching  little  boot 
that  ever  caused  a  thrill  in  the  hearts  of  the  sterner  sex.  Christie 
sprang  from  the  gig,  and  deferentially  tendered  his  hand  to  aid  her 
ascent,  but  mentally  pronouncing  a  malediction  at  the  folly  which 
prompted  him  to  wear  a  glove  upon  his  right  hand,  thereby  de 
priving  himself — voluntarily  depriving  himself  of  the  pleasure 
which  a  touch  of  the  taper  fingers  of  her  ungloved  hand  would 
produce. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  musical  voice  ;  and  she  adjusted  her 
dress  so  as  to  make  room  for  Christie  Kane  by  her  side. 

"^And  now,  Melville,  let  us  see  who  will  reach  home  first." 

The  person  whom  she  addressed  as  Melville,  stood  with  folded 
arms,  and  frowning  brow. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !"  rang  forth  the  merriest  laugh  Christie  had  ever 
heard.  "  Come,  take  the  reins,"  she  exclaimed  ;  "  I  dare  you  to 
the  trial." 

Scowling  at  young  Kane,  the  stranger  sprang  into  his  gig,  and 
wheeling  his  horse's  head,  dashed  furiously  onward. 

"Thou  art  a  craven,"  said 'the  merry  girl  ;  "but  you  may  have 
the  advantage  of  the  start  May  I  test  the  speed  of  your  horse  T' 
she  asked,  turning  to  Christie. 

"  To  the  death,"  replied  the  young  man,  to  whom  she  had  im 
parted  her  own  enthusiasm. 

"  Then  let  me  take  the  whip  and  reins.  Stay,  change  sides — 
there,  that  will  do.  Now  forward,  my  gallant  steed,"  and  the 
lash  fell  lightly  upon  him. 

The  horse  had  observed  with  impatience  the  departure  of  the 
other  steed,  and  now,  as  he  felt  the  touch  of  the  whip,  he  darted 
eagerly  onward. 

"  Soho  !  a  spirited  fellow,"  said  the  damsel,  as  with  form  thrown 
back,  she  guided  the  course  of  the  flying  animal.  Several  times 
she  avoided  a  collision  with  the  trees,  as  they  rapidly  crossed  the 
valley,  but  now  they  began  to  mount  the  ascent  that  led  from  the 
river.  Thus  far,  the  leading  horse  had  gained  a  little  upon  the 
other,  and  the  distance  between  them  perceptibly  increased  before 
they  reached  the  summit  of  the  hill.  Christie  watched  the  two 
as  though  life  and  death  depended  upon  the  result. 

"  Gently,  my  noble  fellow ;  you  have  weight  against  you. 
Gently,  ho !  we  shall  soon  he  at  the  summit.  There,  now  !" 

The  horse  advanced  at  a  tremendous  rate  of  speed,  as  she  gave 
him  the  reins,  and  it  was  soon  apparent  that  he  was  the  fastest 
horse  of  the  two.  The  road  now  led  down  a  gentle  descent,  and 
then  stretched  out  across  a  broad  level  plain. 

"  Untie  my  hat  strings,"  she  said. 

The  hat  had  fallen  back  upon  her  shoulders.  Christie's  trem 
bling  hand  approached  her  ivory  neck,  and  he  made  several  in 
effectual  attempts  to  untie  the  ribbon. 

"  What  a  blunderer  !"  she  exclaimed,  pettishly.  "  There,  now, 
make  haste ;"  and  she  turned  her  flushed  countenance  towards  his 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  15 

own.     With  a  desperate  effort  he  succeeded,  and  as  the  hat  was 
removed,  a  large  mass  of  dark  brown  hair  fell  down  her  back. 

"Did  ever  any  one  see  such  a  bungler?  You  have  made  me 
lose  at  least  ten  feet  by  your  awkwardness."  The  horse  bounded 
forward  under  the  application  of  the  whip. 

As  they  swept  by  each  field,  the  laborers  turned  their  wondering 
eyes  to  the  road,  and  twice  men  were  seen  advancing  rapidly,  to 
arrest  what  they  supposed  were  runaway  horses.  Christie's  horse 
was  not  more  than  ten  yards  behind  the  other,  and  was  fast  gaining 
upon  him,  when  the  latter  diverged  from  the  road,  and  entered  the 
private  carriage-way  leading  through  the  grounds  and  up  to  the 
castle  of  the  Earl  of  Rossmore.  To  his  astonishment,  the  young 
lady  also  drove  through  the  gate,  narrowly  missing  one  of  the  posts, 
as  the  horse  swerved  to  one  side. 

"  For  heaven's  sake,  madam,  are  you  not  aware  that  these  are 
private  grounds  2"  he  observed,  anxiously.  She  deigned  no  reply. 
Her  attention  was  entirely  absorbed  by  the  race  ;  and  her  triumph 
was  now  at  hand.  The  head  of  her  horse  lapped  the  wheel  of  Mel 
ville's  gig.  Twice  she  requested  him  to  yield  part  of  the  narrow 
way,  but  he  obdurately  kept  the  centre  of  the  road.  They  now 
emerged  from  the  grove  and  swept  along  the  open  space  in  front  of 
the  castle.  Its  inmates  collected  upon  the  portico,  as  if  surprised 
at  the  unwonted  intrusion  upon  the  grounds.  The  panting  and 
struggling  horses  were  approaching  a  small  sheet  of  water  that 
spread  out  directly  in  front  of  the  castle.  Along  its  border,  and 
elevated  three  feet  above  it,  ran  the  road.  Each  driver  was  aware 
that  now  was  the  moment  for  the  final  struggle. 

"  Will  you  yield  part  of  the  road  ?"'  exclaimed  the  maiden. 

He  did  not  diverge  a  hair's  breadth  from  his  course. 

"  Then  take  the  consequence  !"  She  wheeled  her  horse  out  up 
on  the  greensward.  A  loud  cheer  was  heard.  Casting  his  eyes 
toward  the  castle,  Christie  saw  the  waving  of  hats  and  handker 
chiefs.  He  had.  no  time  for  contemplation.  They  steadily  drew 
forward — she  turned  the  head  of  her  steed  and  crowded  the  other 
toward  the  lake.  He  was  forced  nearer  and  nearer,  until  one  wheel 
rolled  over  the  bank,  and  Melville  was  precipitated  headforemost 
into  the  water.  The  gig,  relieved  of  its  load,  bounded  upon  the 
bank  again,  and  the  horse  ran  towards  the  lower  end  of  the  park. 

Christie  anxiously  gazed  after  the  form  of  Melville,  but  seeing 
him  ascend  the  bank  unharmed,  once  more  addressed  the  maiden. 

"  You  have  triumphed  ;  let  us  now  leave  these  grounds  :  we  may 
seriously  offend  the  owner." 

The  laughing  girl  heeded  him  not,  but  with  unabated  speed  drove 
in  the  direction  of  the  goodly  company  who  were  cheering  and 
waving  their  hats  and  handkerchiefs  from  the  portico.  Christie's 
glance  turned  from  them  to  his  companion,  and  then  back  again. 

"  Why,  Kate,  mad  girl  !  what  prank  have  you  been  playing  now  ' 
said  the  cheerful  voice  of  Lord  Rossrnore,  as  she  sprang  from  the 
vehicle  into  his  arms. 

"  Only  teaching  Melville  that  he  is  but  an  indifferent  whip,  not 
withstanding  all  his  boasting.  See  what  a  sorry  figure  he  cut*. 
Come  this  way  ;  this  way,  my  Lord  Melville." 


1»  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

But  he  took  his  dripping  garments  around  an  angle  of  the  castle, 
without  confronting  the  merry  party. 

"  A  right  noble  horse,  papa  ;"  said  Katharine  Montague,  caressing 
the  head  of  the  panting  steed. 

"  And  swift  of  foot,"  replied  the  Earl.  "  Will  you  sell  him  1" 
he  continued,  addressing  Christie  Kane,  who  sat  in  blushing  silence. 

"  I  should  be  loath  to  part  with  Surrey,  my  lord." 

"  Where  did  you  pick  up  your  country  beau,  Kate  T'  inquired 
the  Countess  of  Rossmore. 

The  blood  rushed  to  Christie's  face. 

"  You  are  wrong,  Ma'ma  ;  he  picked  me  up  ;"  replied  the  maiden, 
quickly  ;  "  and  what  is  more,  enabled  me  to  achieve  a  triumph  over 
the  vain  Lord  Melville.  Let  this  be  a  slight  token  of  the  gratifica 
tion  which  that  triumph  has  given  me,"  and  she  took  the  rose  that 
rested  upon  her  bosom,  and  placed  it  in  the  hand  of  Christie  Kane. 
He  returned  his  thanks,  and  raising  his  hat,  bowed  to  the  company  ; 
then  picking  up  the  reins,  proceeded  slowly  homeward.  He  started 
as  if  an  adder  had  stung  him,  as  a  masculine  voice  observed, 

"  A  well-behaved  fellow,  for  a  plebeian,  and  a  clodpole." 

"  Such  are  the  distinctions  of  society,"  he  muttered  gloomily,  as 
the  laughter  died  away  that  had  recorded  the  unfeeling  jest. 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  On  man,  as  man,  retaining  yet, 

IIo\ve'er  debased,  and  soiled,  and  dim, 

The  crown  upon  his  forehead  set — 

The  immortal  gift  of  God  to  him." —  Whittur. 

IT  will  be  necessary,  to  give  the  reader  a  more  formal  introduc 
tion  to  our  characters  than  was  obtained  in  the  last  chapter.  This 
we  will  now  proceed  briefly  to  do.  Katharine  Montague  was  tho 
only  child  of  Lord  and  the  Countess  of  Rossmore.  With  a  small 
circle  of  friends  they  were  passing  a  few  weeks  at  the  castle  of 
Montague.  Lord  Melville  and  his  parents,  the  Duke  and  Duchess 
of  Sinulerland,  with  their  guests,  were  also  tarrying  at  their  coun 
try-seat  upon  the  adjoining  estate.  Christie  Kane  was  a  tenant  of 
the  Duke  of  Sunderland,  and  Ellen  Knowles  was  the  grand-daugh 
ter  of  a  noble  duke,  her  mother  having  eloped  with,  and  married,  a 
young  ensign,  who  afterwards  rose  to  the  rank  of  a  colonel.  Mrs. 
Kane,  the  sister  of  Colonel  Knowles,  had  married  more  humbly,  and 
since  the  death  of  her  husband,  had  barely  escaped  from  the  horror 
of  want.  Robert  Kane,  Christie's  brother,  had  been  in  London 
several  years,  and  only  paid  brief  visits  to  the  paternal  roof  as  a 
temporary  relief  from  severe  toil.  The  character  of  each  will  be 
delineated  during  the  progress  of  the  story. 

Upon  the  morning  of  the  day  succeeding  the  events  recorded  in 
the  first  chapter,  Lady  Rossmore  was  seated  in  the  elegant  draw 
ing-room  of  the  castle,  entertaining  the  Duchess  of  Sunderland  and 
her  son.  Lord  Melville  was  lounging  upon  a  sofa,  casting  occa- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  17 

sional  glances  towards  the  door.  If  he  expected  Katharine  Mon 
tague  to  enter,  he  was  disappointed,  for  she  was  at  that  moment  a 
mile  from  the  castle,  upon  the  back  of  a  spirited  horse. 

"  Are  you  troubled  with  complaints  and  excuses  from  your  ten 
ants  ?"  inquired  the  Countess  of  Rossmore,  as  she  adjusted  herself 
more  comfortably  in  the  large  ariri-chair. 

"  Constantly.  One  would  really  suppose  the  lazy  creatures  had 
nothing  else  to  do  but  to  annoy  their  masters.  And  they  are  so 
importunate,  too.  You  must  listen  to  the  entire  catalogue  of  their 
grievances,  from  the  failure  of  the  crops  to  the  death  of  the  only 
horse.  It  was  only  this  morning  that  a  brazen-faced  woman  per 
sisted  in  forcing  her  way  into  my  presence,  and  nearly  crazed  me 
with  her  volubility.  Her  husband  had  deceased,  the  rot  had  de 
stroyed  their  potatoes,  the  storm  had  blown  down  their  chimney, 
and,  to  come  to  the  point  of  the  whole  story,  they  could  not  pay 
the  rent,  and  she  begged  me  to  direct  the  steward  not  to  turn  her 
out  upon  the  *  wide,  wide  world,'  to  use  her  own  expression." 

"  And  what  reply  did  you  make,  my  ludy  mother  <-."  asked  Mel 
ville,  as  he  languidly  raised  his  head  from  his  hand. 

"  I  said  the  steward  had  informed  me  that  [  must  expect  such 
applications  frequently,"  replied  the  Duchess  ;  "  but  that  I  should 
pay  no  attention  whatever  to  them.  He  further  remarked,  if  1  be 
lieved  one  half  the  tales  of  suffering  that  were  poured  into  my  ears 
by  weeping  mothers  arid  distracted  daughters,  every  moment  of 
my  time  would  be  occupied."  ;,:,,. 

"  Well,  what  said  the  woman  ?" 

"  She  assumed  a  threatening  aspect,  and  half  wildly  exclaimed, 
'  have  a  care,  madam,  how  you  treat  my  request.  I  may  have  it 
in  my  power  to  humble  your  pride.'  I  called  the  waiter,  and  di 
rected  him  to  remove  the  disagreeable  person.  She  erected  her 
form  to  its  full  height,  while  her  eyes  flashed  fire,  as  I  pointed  to 
the  door.  My  nerves  were  very  much  shaken,  very  much  shaken 
indeed,  at  the  rudeness  of  the  horriJ  creature." 

"  What  was  her  name  ?  she  shall  be  taught  to  respect  our  posi 
tion,"  said  Lord  Melville. 

"I  did  not  take  the  trouble  to  recollect  it.  Some  common  name, 
I  believe  ;  the  steward  can  tell  you  ;  Keen  or  Kine,  perhaps." 

"  Was  it  not  KaneT'  inquired  Melville,  eagerly,  as  he  started  to 
his  feet. 

"  Yes,  thai  was  it.  But  what  possible  interest  can  you  take  in 
such  vulgar  affairs'?" 

"  More  than  you  suppose,"  muttered  the  youno-  nobleman  as  he 
left  the  room. 

In  a  few  moments  Katharine  Montague  entered  the  drawing-room, 
and  addressing  her  salutations  to  the  visitor,  seated  herself  at  an  em 
broidery  frame. 
„  "  Wnat  nave  we  to  do  with  their  hardships  ?"  said  the  Duchess. 

They  were  born  upon  our  soil,  and  are  sheltered  by  our  roofs  ; 
we  have  claims  upon  their  services  instead  of  beincr  under  obliga 
tions  to  them." 

Katharine  Montague  divined  at  once  the  subject  of  conversation, 
and  observed,  while  a  demure  expression  sat  upon  her  countenance  : 

•2* 


18  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  If  they  hesitate  to  pay  the  last  farthing,  even  if  it  does  reduce 
them  to  the  verge  of  starvation,  it  is  only  exhibiting  a  proper  de 
gree  of  gratitude  and  respect  for  those  who  are  the  accidental  own 
ers  of  the  soil." 

"  Very  true  ;  I  am  glad  to  see  you  have  a  just  appreciation  of 
our  prerogatives.  There  is  nothing  more  important,  my  dear  Coun 
tess,  than  to  apprise  tue  young  nobility  of  the  exact  scope  of  their 
prerogatives." 

"  And  is  it  not  quite  as  essential  to  teach  the  substratum  that 
their  duties  consist  of  unceasing  toil  and  suffering'?'1  inquired  Kath 
arine  Montague,  whose  eyes  were  hent  upon  her  embroidery. 

"  }Tou  are  right,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  Duchess  ;  "  there  is 
nothing  like  commencing  a  thorough  training  early." 

"  And  it  is  quite  as  important  to  continue  it.  There  should  be  no 
relaxation — no  moment  of  ease — when  the  toiling  millions  can  raise 
their  heads  and  wipe  the  sweat  from  their  aching  brows,"  observed 
Katharine  Montague. 

"'Precisely  so.  There  is  probably  no  class  of  serfs  so  admira 
bly  drilled  as  the  English.  They  yield  a  princely  revenue  to  the 
nobility  and  clergy.  They  enable  us  to  indulge  in  costly  excur 
sions  abroad,  and  to  gratify  our  taste  by  the  most  lavish  expendi 
tures  at  home.  We  have  no  trouble  in  watching  over  them,  except 
to  enforce  the  payment  of  rents.  It  makes  not  the  slightest  differ 
ence  to  us  whether  they  are  sick  or  well.  They  pay  their  own 
doctors'  bills,  and  if  their  crops  are  blighted,  they  must  resort  to 
the  most  pinching  economy,  for  the  rent  must  be  paid.  If  long 
continued  suffering  or  the  whispering  of  demagogues  make  them 
restless,  the  authorities  have  only  to  swear  in  an  additional  number 
of  constables,  and  they  are  reduced  to  submission.  I  really  can 
conceive  of  no  condition  of  society  more  charming,"  and  the  Duch 
ess  flourished  her  ivory  fan  with  the  greatest  satisfaction. 

"  And  the  beauty  of  the  whole  system,"  said  Katharine  Monta 
gue,  while  a  covert  meaning  played  upon  her  lips,  "  consists  in  its 
justice  and  fair  seeming.  We  receive  the  fruits  of  their  labor,  but 
do  we  not  cause  them  to  be  respected  by  other  nations  ?.  They 
pour  the  money  earned  by  days  of  exhaustion  and  nights  of  anxiety 
into  our  laps,  but  do  we  not  arouse  the  envy  of  a  less  fortunate  aris 
tocracy.  If  their  own  honor  and  that  of  England  is  assailed,  do 
we  not  evince  a  disposition  to  redress  it,  even  to  the  extent  of  em 
ploying  a  press-gang  to  drag  them  from  their  helpless  families  ;  and 
ratheAhan  permit  the  indignity  to  go  unavenged,  and  the  stain  to 
remain  upon  our  flag,  do  we  not  wash  it  out  with  their  own  blood  ? 

"  Kate,  my  darling,  where  did  you  obtain  so  just  an  appreciation 
of  the  rights  and  duties  of  the  English  aristocracy  2"  said  the 
Duchess  enthusiastically. 

"  I  think  any  person  of  ordinary  discrimination  cannot  fail  to  ob 
serve  them.  The  substratum  display  great  ingenuity  in  adapting 
themselves  to  this  condition.  They  bestow  vast  wealth  upon  the 
clergy,  but  how  are  they  repaid  1  By  being  permitted  to  stare  with 
open-mouthed  gratification  at  splendid  churches,  gorgeous  robes, 
and  magnificent  equipages.  They  shower  untold  sums  upon  the 
nobility,  and  how  do  we  reward  them  ?  They  are  allowed  to  gaze 


AND  AMERiu^N  SLAVERY.  19 

at  processions,  crowd  around  the  ball-room,  opera-house,  or  private 
dwelling,  wondering  how  much  their  own  money  can  adorn  man 
hood  and  beauty,  and  thank  us  for  generously  permitting  them  to 
take  note  of  the  magnificence  with  which  we  lavish  their  gifts." 

"  It  never  occurred  to  me  that  there  could  be  a  system  in  our 
exhibitions  of  splendor,"  said  the  Duchess  of  Sunderland. 

u  Really,  my  dear  madam,  you  must  allow  me  to  think  you  are 
too  modest.  It  occurs  to  me  that  nothing  could  be  more  palpable 
than  the  effect  which  pomp  and  splendor  are  designed  to  produce 
upon  the  vulgar.  Do  you  suppose  if  the  famed  aristocracy  of  Eng 
land  should  be  clothed  in  the  humble  garb  of  the  laborer,  and  suf 
fer  the  sun's  heat  to  brown  their  complexions  and  the  rude  contact 
of  implements  of  husbandry  to  crack  and  soil  their  hands,  that  they 
could  for  forty-eight  hours  overawe  and  control  the  peasantry  of 
the  British  Empire  1  No  !  it  is  the  result  of  no  ordinary  forethought 
and  sagacity,  this  wringing  its  fruits  from  the  hand  of  labor  with  the 
design  of  ostentatiously  displaying  it  for  the  purpose  of  dazzling  the 
giver,  thus  creating  a  necessity  for  still  further  contributions  to  be 
expended  in  th'e  same  manner.  And  the  poor  creatures  manage 
by  some  sort  of  a  mental  process  to  blend  our  extravagance  with 
their  own  celebrity." 

"  Well,  that  is  a  fortunate  circumstance,"  said  Lady  Rossmore, 
"  for  it  makes  them  contented  with  a  social  position  that — that — " 

"That  none  but  the  substratumjj£t  desirous  of  occupying,"  in 
terposed  Katharine  Montague.  '^^Wey  ought  to  be  satisfied  with 
the  privileges,  which,  in  our  gracious  condescension,  we  have 
deigned  to  confer  upon  them,"  continued  the  young  lady,  while  the 
slightest  possible  approach  to  a  sarcastic  smile  played  about  the 
corners  of  her  mouth.  "  Are  they  not  allowed  to  furnish  us  with 
food  ?  Do  they  not  construct  our  railroads,  and  pave  our  streets  ? 
Are  they  not  suffered  to  bring  to  our  shores  the  luxuries  and  neces 
saries  of  life  ?  Have  they  not  our  full,  I  may  say  unqualified  per 
mission  to  perform  the  most  menial  offices?  Are  they  not  allowed 
to  fight  our  battles,  and  to  bear  the  cross  of  St.  George  in  triumph 
upon  the  bosom  of  every  sea?  And  as  a  climax  to  our  generosity, 
do  we  not  make  their  laws  and  relieve  them  from  the  trouble  of 
governing  themselves?  Nay,  suffer  them  to  throw  up  their  hats, 
and  cheer,  while  we  pass,  without  even  permitting  a  look  of  dis 
pleasure  to  cross  our  features  at  such  familiarity  ?" 

Katharine  Montague  worked  with  increased  diligence  while  she 
gave  utterance  to  these  opinions.  It  was  evident  that  her  lady 
mother  listened  with  a  feeling  of  intense  pride  to  what  she  consi 
dered  the  wisdom  of  her  daughter. 

"  But  how  do  you  account  for  the  fact,  that  the  aristocracy  of 
England,  although  occupying  different  social  positions,  all  unite  in 
defending  the  system  ?" 

"  Easily.  It  is  because  there  is  no  one  so  humble  but  that  he 
can  point  to  an  inferior.  The  Duke  can  doff  his  hat  to  royalty  be 
cause  the  Earl  must  yield  him  precedence.  The  Earl  can  give 
up  the  post  of  honor  to  the  Duke,  because  the  Baron  must  recede 
at  his  approach,  even  if  by  doing  so  he  treads  upon  the  knightly 
toes  of  the  Baronet,  and  soon  through  all  the  gradations  of  society, 


20  EKGLISH  SERFDOM 

until  you  come  to  the  substratum  upon  whose  shoulders  rests  the 
vast  fabric  of  British  despotism." 

The  last  words  were  uttered  by  Katharine  Montague  with  energy, 
and  as  she  concluded,  putting  aside  the  embroidery  frame,  she 
withdrew. 

The  day  succeeding  the  storm  the  weather  was  changeable. 
The  sun  emerged  from  the  clouds  at  short  intervals,  and  then  the 
sky  became  again  overcast,  and  the  rain  descended.  Christie 
Kane  watched  the  heavens  with  the  greatest  anxiety,  for  his  wheat 
lay  scattered  upon  the  ground.  It  had  already  been"  exposed  to  one 
storm  since  the  reaper  had  performed  his  task  ;  and  he  was  fearful 
that  before  it  was  ready  for  the  stack  it  would  become  mouldy. 
He  was  more  than  usually  alarmed,  because  he  not  only  depended 
upon  it  for  bread,  but  with  it  he  expected  to  lessen  somewhat  his 
liabilities  for  rent.  It  was,  then,  with  an  anxious  eye  that  he  saw 
evening  approach  before  the  sun  broke  through  the  clouds.  It  was 
too  late  then  to  accomplish  anything,  and  he  was  slowly  proceed 
ing  towards  the  cottage,  when  he  heard  the  sound  of  horses'  feet 


rapidly  approaching.  Turning  his  head  he  saw  a  party  of  ladies 
and  gentlemen  riding  up  the  road,  and  a  momentary  thrill  of  plea 
sure  was  produced  as  he  saw  Katharine  Montague  among  them. 
He  was  in  the  act  of  raising  his  hat  as  she  passed,  but  her  eyes 
rested  upon  him  mechanically  for  a  moment,  as  upon  a  person  she 
had  never  seen  before,  and  were  then  withdrawn, 

"  Of  course  she  will  not  deign  to  recognize  me,  fool  that  I  was 
to  think  so,"  exclaimed  the  youth  bitterly. 

"  Yonder  is  Lady  Katharine's  gallant,"  exclaimed  Lord  Mel 
ville,  tauntingly,  as  the  rear  of  the  party  were  riding  past.  Half- 
a-dozen  persons  looked  in  the  direction  that  he  pointed,  and  then  a 
peal  of  laughter  rang  upon  the  air. 

A  momentary  pang  shot  to  the  heart  of  the  poor  fellow,  and  then 
he  bore  himself  bravely  up  in  the  strength  of  innate  nobleness  and 
conscious  rectitude. 

He  met  his  mother  at  the  gate. 

"  Well,  Christie,  I  went  to  see  the  Duchess  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  the  time  extended  for  the  payment  of  the  rent." 

A  flash  of  displeasure  shot  across  the  features  of  her  son. 

"  Mother,  how  could  you  so  degrade  us  ?" 

"  Hoot,  boy  !  Degrade  us,  indeed  !  What  have  the  poor  to  say 
against  degradation.  Where  is  the  money  to  pay  the  rent  ?  What 
is  to  keep  us  from  the  highway  even  now  ?  Potatoes  destroyed, 
and  with  a  fair  prospect  of  the  entire  loss  of  the  wheat,  methinks 
you  have  little  to  do  \vith  pride,  unless  you  expect  to  carry  your 
aspirations  to  a  ready  market.  Degradation,  forsooth  !" 

Christie  turned  gloomily  away. 

"  Well,  she  heeded  your  prayers,  did  she  not  ?" 

"  By  the  foul  fiends,  no  !  With  a  haughty  languor  she  replied 
that  her  steward  had  informed  her  she  might  expect  frequent  ap 
plications  of  the  kind.  She  could  not,  she  realty  could  not  think 
of  troubling  herself  about  such  vulgar  matters  !  May  heaven  de 
sert  me  if  she  shall  not  repent,  aye  bitterly  repent,  her  insolence." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  21 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  Well  repaid,  my  gracious  mother,  for  your  con 
descension." 

"  Have  a  care,  sir,  how  you  are  wanting  in  respect,"  said  Mrs. 
Kane,  fiercely. 

"  It  is  useless  for  you  to  attempt  to  treat  me  as  a  child,  mother. 
And  while  1  am  upon  that  subject,  let  me  say  once  for  all,  that 
your  tyrannical  conduct  towards  me  since  I  was  an  infant— the 
marked  contrast  in  your  bearing  towards  me  and  Robert — has 
given  you  small  claim  upon  my  gratitude  and  affection.  I  am  a 
man  now,  and  will  no  longer  be  treated  as  a  child  !" 

The  air  of  calm  determination  with  which  this  was  announced, 
overawed  Mrs.  Kane  for  a  moment,  but  her  form  trembled  with 
rage  as  her  son  entered  the  house. 

The  pensive  eyes  of  Ellen  Knowles  met  his,  as  Christie  Kane 
seated  himself  upon  the  old  fashioned  sofa.  The  subdued  bearing 
of  the  maiden  contrasted  so  strongly  with  the  harsh  demeanor  of 
his  mother,  that  the  irritated  feelings  of  the  young  man  were 
soothed. 

"  Cousin  Christie,  I  sympathize  with  you  sincerely  in  your  mis 
fortunes." 

"  You  are  a  good  girl,  Ellen,  and  I  am  grateful  for  your  kind 
ness.1' 

"  Why  do  you  not  compare  your  condition  with  that  of  others  ?" 

"  I  do." 

"  But  you  compare  it  with  the  fate  of  those  who  are  more  boun 
tifully  supplied  with  this  world's  goods  than  yourself." 

"  It  is  natural  to  do  so." 

"  Nay,  but  Christie  is  it  wise  ?"  said  Ellen  hesitatingly. 

"  Perhaps  not." 

"  I  was  glancing  at  the  paper  while  waiting  for  you  to  return  ; 
that  is,  I  was  reading  it,  having  nothing  else  to  do,"  stammered 
Ellen,  confusedly. 

"  I  understand  ;  well  ?" 

And  it  gives  the  most  terrible  description  of  the  suffering  of  the 
peasantry  upon  the  western  portion  of  the  Duke's  estate." 

"And  the  next  column  describes  the  brilliant  ball  given  by  the 
Duchess  at  his  country  seat,  where  the  strains  of  music  blended,  as 
they  floated  away,  with  the  wailings  of  despair  J" 

"  It  does,"  said  the  maiden  sadly. 
^   "I  thought  so." 

Ellen  looked  at  him  with  tearful  eyes.     Their  glances  met. 

"Come,  Nell,  I  will  gratify  your  pitying  impulses  by  listening  to 
those  tales  of  suffering.  Read,  Nell." 

With  a  grateful  look  the  damsel  read  extracts  from  the  report 
made  by  commissioners  appointed  by  the  English  Parliament  to  in 
quire  into  the  condition  of  the  hand-loom  weavers.* 

"  One  witness  called  before  the  commission,  said — 

4  Children  of  seven  years  old  can  begin  to  turn  the  wheel  to  spin 

*The  quotations  are  taken  from  a  report  which  was  actually  made  to  the 
British  Parliament  in  Ib4u,  and  cau  be  fouutl  copied  into  a  speech  made 
by  Hon.  Charles  Hudson  (a  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts),  in 
1842.— The  Author. 


22  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

flax,  which  is  very  hard  work,  and  they  are  kept  at  work  from  five 
in  the  morning  till  nine  at  night.  I  might  enumerate  the  number 
of  weak  and  crooked-legged  children  in  towns — an  evil  that  is  at 
tributable  to  this  sort  of  work.' 

"A  manufacturer  testifies  that — 

*  Their  dwellings,  their  clothing  and  that  of  their  children,  evince 
great  misery.  There  is  often  great  distress  among  them,  They 
are  generally  sober,  industrious,  steady  men;  but,  with  the  best  in 
tentions,  at  the  present  wages,  they  cannot  get  a  living.  Many  of 
the  weavers  are  obliged  to  apply  to  the  parish  for  assistance.' 

"  Mr.  Otway,  the  commissioner  who  examined  into  the  condition 
of  the  weavers  in  Ireland,  says  : — 

'  The  cabins  that  the  weavers  live  and  work  in  are  fearful  speci 
mens  of  what  habit  will  enable  human  beings  to  endure.  The 
weavers  are  obliged  to  pay  as  high  rent  for  these  dens  as  they 
ought  to  get  comfortable  cabins  for.  Nothing  can  equal  the  distress 
of  die  poor  cotton  weavers.  I  never  witnessed  greater  misery  than 
in  their  cabins  and  mode  of  living.  The  houses  of  some  of  the 
lower  classes  of  weavers  are  in  the  most  wretched  state,  with  only 
a  little  straw  and  a  coverlet  for  a  bed ;  plenty  of  children,  but 
scarcely  a  chair  to  sit  down  upon.' 

"  Erasmus  Chadton,  a  police  sergeant,  testifies  : — 

'  Sometimes  he  has  had  occasion  to  search  the  houses  of  some 
of  the  weavers  on  suspicion  of  stealing  yarn,  and  had  witnessed 
very  distressing  cases — children  crying  for  food,  and  the  parent 
having  neither  food  nor  money  in  the  house,  nor  work  to  obtain 
any.' 

"  Another  witness  says  : — 

'  A  poor  weaver  came  last  Sunday  to  my  house,  and  stated  he 
had  had  a  poor  Sunday,  not  having  a  potatoe,  or  even  a  bit  of  bread 
in  his  house.  The  weaver  had  a  wife  near  confinement  and  three 
children.' 

"  Another  witness  testifies  that : — 

'  He  has  no  doubt  many  of  the  weavers  and  their  children,  es 
pecially  young  children,  die  from  disease  brought  on  by  want  of 
proper  nourishment.'  " 

Christie  Kane  moved  uneasily  in  his  chair.  At  that  moment  the 
merry  laughter  of  the  party  of  equestrians  was  heard,  and,  as  they 
cantered  by  the  house,  the  young  man's  brow  was  contracted  into 
a  heavy  frown.  "  Others  starve  while  they  laugh,"  he  muttered 
between  his  teeth. 

A  suppressed  sob  escaped  from  the  overcharged  bosom  of  Ellen 
Knovvles.  She  raised  her  kerchief  to  her  eyes,  and  then  asked 
Christie  if  she  should  continue.  "  Oh  yes,  let  us  scan  the  picture 
in  all  its  details." 

Ellen  continued — u  One  of  the  weavers  testified  before  the  com 
mission  as  follows  :  — 

'  Question. — Have  you  any  children  ?' 

*  Answer. — No  :  I  had  two,  but  they  are  both  dead,  thanks  be  to 
God!' 

'Question. — Do  you  express  satisfaction  at  the  death  of  your 
children  ?' 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  23 

'Answer. — I  do.  I  thank  God  for  it.  I  am  released  from  the 
burden  of  maintaining  them  ;  and  they,  poor  dear  creatures,  are 
released  from  the  troubles  of  this  mortal  life.'  " 

"  Hold  !  for  God's  sake !  this  is  too  frightful !  Accursed  des 
potism,  that  can  perpetrate  such  horrors  ;  and  abominable  hypocri 
sy,  that  affects  great  sanctity  while  it  points  at  and  condemns  the 
faults  of  other  systems,"  exclaimed  Christie  Kane,  as  he  abruptly 
left  the  cottage. 

The  eyes  of  Ellen  Knowles  followed  him  ;  but  the  whole  expres 
sion  of  her  countenance  had  changed.  Instead  of  sympathy,  a  look 
of  triumph  sat  upon  her  features  as  she  soliloquized  : 

"  I  have  pricked  your  confidence  in  the  nobility,  my  aspiring 
cousin,  while  I  have  convinced  you  that  persons  in  your  humble 
position  ought  to  be  grateful.  If  this  fails  to  elicit  a  declaration 
of  love,  I  must  e'en  try  some  other  plan.  Shall  this  inexperienced 
boy  baulk  one  who  boasts  of  her  power  to  baffle  and  deceive  1  Nev 
er  !"  and  her  pearly  teeth  pressed  her  nether  lip  as  she  vowed  he 
should  yet  kneel  humbly  at  her  feet. 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  Ah  !  that  deceit  should  steal  such  gentle  shapes,    - 
And  with  virtuous  visor  hide  deep  vice  !" — Shakespeare. 

CHRISTIE  KANE  rose  from  his  bed  at  an  early  hour  the  following 
morning,  and  eagerly  scanned  the  appearance  of  the  heavens.  His 
spirits  sank  as  he  observed  the  scarlet-tinted  clouds  gathering  in 
the  east.  Slowly  the  sun  mounted  from  the  horizon  and  cast  his 
rays  with  a  red,  angry  glare  upon  the  earth,  while  occasionally  a 
hot  breath  of  air  came  up  from  the  south.  Kane  looked  anxiously 
over  the  field  where  his  wheat  lay,  fast  mouldering  upon  the  satu 
rated  ground.  The  clouds  heeded  not  his  imploring  glance,  but 
rallied  their  force  until  the  whole  firmament  was  overcast.  Then 
the  rain  descended  in  torrents,  and  with  an  imprecation,  forced  from 
him  in  the  excess  of  anguish,  he  turned  moodily  away. 

"  Niver  mind,  maister  Christie,  the  world  owes  us  a  living,  for  Sir 
Wm.  Belthoven  told  the  fraymen  so,  and  said  they  mustn't  make 
thimselves  onasy  or  discontented,  no  matter  what  might  be  their 
sufferings,  for  they'd  niver  die  ontail  their  time  come  ;  an'  if  they 
did,  for  the  matter  o'  that,  become  a  little  pinched  wid  hunger,  they 
must  consider  it  a  bountiful  affliction  of  providence  as  a  punishment 
for  their  transgressions." 

"  And  what  response  did  the  people  make  ?" 

"  Why,  yez  say,  the  farmers  who  hiv  provisions  to  sell  cheered 
vahamently  bakase  they  did  hiv  provisions  to  sell." 

"  But  what  said  the  day-laborers  ?" 

"  Why,  the  ungrateful  spalpeens  towld  him  that  was  mighty 
poor  consolation  to  a  man  wid  an  empty  stomach  ;  and  then  the 
farmers  began  to  hustle  them  out ;  but  Sir  William,  wid  one  of  his 
banivolent  smiles,  towld  them  not  to  molest  the  people,  bekaze  they 


24  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

had  nothing  to  do  wid  the  matter,  as  the  parliament  ralieved  thim 
from  the  trouble  of  voting  ;  and  said  they  were  compensated  fur 
any  little  inconvanience  they  might  suffer  be  manes  of  hiving  noth 
ing  to  ate,  in  the  magnificent  and  splendid  government  that  was  pro 
vided  fur  them  wid  their  own  money.  Which  rasoning  satisfied  all 
parties,  and  they  said  Sir  William  would  make  a  jewel  of  a  mim- 
ber." 

"  Fools  !  fools  !  thus  to  hug  your  chains,"  said  Kane,  passion 
ately. 

The  storm  now  raged,  and  Christie  Kane  saw  the  utter  loss  of 
his  crop,  which  he  foresaw  would  be  succeeded  by  civil  proceed 
ings,  ejectment,  and  ruin. 

The  brow  of  Mrs.  Kane  wore  a  deeper  frown  as  they  were  seat 
ed  at  the  dinner-table. 

"  What  think  you  now  of  my  application  to  the  Duchess  of  Sun- 
derland  ?  Does  your  pride  still  revolt  at  it?  Or  does  the  appre 
hension  of  adversity,  or  rather  absolute  want,  smooth  down  your 
self-esteem  ?" 

"  \\  hatever  misfortunes  destiny  may  have  in  store  for  me,  I  will 
never  stoop  to  ask  favors  of  the  oppressor.  Fate  may  do  her 
worst." 

"  We  shall  see — we  shall  see.  Plunger  is  a  conqueror  of  stub 
born  wills.  But,  Christie,"  she  continued,  in  a  milder  voice, 
"  Why  do  you  not  seek  the  hand  of  your  cousin  Ellen  ;  I  am  cer 
tain  she  loves  you  7" 

"  Do  you  think  so,  mother  ?"  he  replied,  while  a  gleam  of  pleas 
ure  lit  up  his  features. 

"  There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt  of  it.  Besides,  you  will  always 
be  able  to  secure  a  competence  through  the  influence  of  Colonel 
Knowles." 

**  And  become  a  pensioner  upon  his  will,"  replied  Christie,  sternly. 

'  Did  ever  any  one  see  such  a  suspicious  and  unmanageable  boy." 

"  I  am  no  longer  a  boy,  and  I  will  take  my  natural  position 
among  the  thinking,  resolute  men  of  my  time." 

"And  bravely,  no  doubt,  will  a  peasant  succeed.  Ha!  ha! 
Without  money,  without  friends,  without  a  name.  Go  on,  my  self- 
willed  child,  and  let  us  see  how  far  you  will  ascend  the  ladder  of 
fame  !" 

"  But,  mother,  renown  has  been  acquired  by  the  humbly-born." 
said  Christie,  in  a  low,  half-imploring  voice. 

"Yes,  by  a  few  pampered  menials  of  the  crown." 

"  No  !  no  !  by  some  of  the  ablest  and  purest  of  philosophers,  ora 
tors,  and  statesmen.  Newton,  whose  mind  could  not  be  controlled 
by  the  shackles  of  nature — Boyle,  who  dissected  with  the  knife  of 
a  master  the  organization  of  matter — Thurlow,  the  dispenser  of 
equity,  and  the  custodian  of  the  king's  conscience  (which  1  assume 
to  have  been  a  very  difficult  task) — Locke,  who  laid  bare  the  pro 
cess  of  reasoning,  and  the  foundation  and  development  of  human 
judgment — Erskine,  whose  magic  eloquence  swayed  the  senate 
and  controlled  the  bench — Cromwell,  glorious  Cromwell,  who  con 
vinced  a  despotic  king  and  a  corrupt  nobility  that  popular  vengeance 
is  sometimes  terribly  appeased  when  justice  is  outraged  —  and 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  W 

Washington,  immortal  Washington,  who  taught  a  rapacious  mon 
arch  that  an  empire  was  the  price  of  unmerited  rashness:  all — all 
of  those  illustrious  men  carved  their  renown  with  their  own  hands, 
and  in  characters  that  time  can  neither  mutilate  nor  efface." 

Christie  Kane  spoke  with  the  fire  of  enthusiasm,  and  for  a  few 
moments  his  mother  was  startled  by  his  language  ;  and  then  she 
remarked,  with  cutting  irony. 

"  And,  pray,  is  it  in  the  field  of  philosophy,  eloquence,  or  war, 
that  you  intend  to  commence  your  career1?  Will  you  become  a 
competitor  of  Newton  in  philosophy,  of  Locke  in  ratiocination,  of 
Erskine  in  oratory,  of  Cromwell  in  treason  ;  or  does  your  patriot 
ism  prompt  you  to  emulate  the  conduct  of  Washington  by  instigat 
ing  the  Canadians  to  revolt,  or,  mayhap,  to  place  yourself  at  the 
head  of  some  tribe  in  Hindoostan,  or  of  a  few  straggling  cannibals 
in  South  Africa?  If  these  enterprises  are  not  sufficiently  lofty  for 
your  ambition,  you  can  mount  Surry,  and,  placing  Phelim  astride 
the  cow,  for  the  want  of  a  more  showy  animal,  start  forth,  Don 
Quixote  like,  in  search  of  adventures." 

"  Mother,''  said  Christie,  with  a  forced  laugh,  "  I  am  sure,  if  you 
had  been  an  acquaintance  of  Job's  wife,  you  would  have  caused 
her  to  break  one  of  the  commandments." 

"  W^hy  ]" 

"  Because  she  would  have  coveted  your  tongue  for  the  purpose 
of  putting  the  patience  of  her  long-suffering  husband  to  a  final  test." 

The  conversation,  which  was  in  danger  of  becoming  personal, 
was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  Ellen  Knowles,  who  extended 
her  hand  to  Christie  Kane.  Her  voice  was  subdued,  and  the  melt 
ing  eyes  were  cast  to  the  floor,  as  if  her  bashfulness  could  not  re 
main  unmoved  in  the  presence  of  Christie. 

"  Ellen,  you  are  always  welcome  ;  I  am  glad  to  see  you." 

"  Thank  you,  Christie  ;  the  assurance  gives  me  much  pleasure. 
I  came  to  offer  my  sincere  condolence  upon  the  distressing  condi 
tion  of  your  agricultural  affairs.  I  fear  your  wheat  crop  will  be 
destroyed  ;  is  it  so  ?"  and  the  maiden's  voice  trembled  with  anxiety. 

"  Hopelessly." 

"And  \vhat  will  you  do,  Christie  T' 

"  Do  1  that  is  difficult  to  tell  ;  only  I  shall  preserve  -my  inde 
pendence." 

'  Faugh  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Kane,  with  extreme  disgust. 

"  No,  no,  Aunty,  you  are  wrong,"  said  the  mild  voice  of  E'len. 

"  You  are  always  defending  his  absurdities.  In  your  estimation 
Mr.  Christie  Kane  cannot  err." 

"  Oh,  Aunty,  why  did  you  divulge — " 

'k  Never  mind,  cousin  Ellen,  she  has  only  increased  the  high 
opinion  I  have  always  entertained  for  you." 

The  blushing  cheek  of  the  girl  was  shaded  by  a  mass  of  curls 
as  she  turned  her  glance  to  the  window,  but  her  features  wore  an 
expression  of  triumph  which  the  young  man  did  not  observe. 

"Come,  Ellen,  your  presence  has  brought  sunshine  once  more. 
Will  you  walk  with  me  T' 

This  time  she  did  not  refuse,  and  together  they  passed  through 


26  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

the  garden  and  entered  the  little  thatched  roofed  arbor  that  was 
separated  from  the  highway  by  a  hedge. 

"  Ellen,  you  have  manifested  an  interest  in  my  affairs.  I  will 
confide  to  you  my  hopes,  for  I  am  certain  of  your  sympathy.1' 

She  smiled  gratefully. 

"  I  cannot  pay  the  rent,  and  unless  I  greatly  misunderstand  the 
disposition  of  the  Duke's  steward,  if  not  the  Duke's  son,  I  shall  be 
ejected  from  the  house  in  which  I  was  born." 

EHen  Knowles  eagerly  caught  at  his  words. 

"  What  reason  have  you  for  supposing  that  Lord  Melville  will 
prove  your  enemy  ?" 

"  It  is  needless  to  explain  them  ;  suffice  it  to  say,  I  cannot  be 
mistaken.1' 

Again  a  gleam  of  triumph  shot  across  the  features  of  the  girl, 
but  was  as  quickly  succeeded  by  a  look  of  solicitude,  which  Chris 
tie  attributed  to  an  intense  interest  in  his  affairs. 

"  In  the  event  of  such  disasters  befalling  you,  what  will  you 
do  T'  and  the  large,  expressive  blue  eyes  were  fixed  tearfully  upon 
his  face. 

"  1  will  leave  England  for  ever." 

Ellen  was  visibly  affected  by  this  annunciation,  and  her  cheeks 
rested  upon  her  hands.  But  her  mind  was  eagerly  revolving  the 
results  which  must  ensue  from  such  a  course.  With  the  quickness 
of  thought  she  foresaw  it  would  aid  her  own  views,  but  she  had 
too  much  tact  not  to  appear  unhappy  at  the  prospect  of  a  separa- 
ration.  The  tears  trickled  through  her  fingers  and  a  deep  sigh  es 
caped  her. 

"  Dear  Ellen,  does  this  intelligence  give  you  pain  ?" 

Another,  and  a  louder  sob  succeeded,  but  she  did  not  speak,  for 
she  knew  that  silence  was  more  eloquent  than  words.  Christie 
contemplated  her  well-formed  head  and  blooming  form,  and  taking 
her  soft  white  hand  in  his  own  he  bent  his  head  down  until  her 
glossy  curls  touched  his  cheek.  His  attention  was  attracted  by 
the  approach  of  his  mother  who  stalked  into  the  garden.  Perceiv 
ing  that  the  intrusion  was  untimely,  she  retraced  her  steps,  but  the 
spell  was  broken,  and  Christie  rose  abruptly  to  his  feet.  Ellen 
Knowles  bit  her  lips,  and  a  scowl  of  rage  disfigured  her  brow,  a* 
they  proceeded  towards  the  house. 

The  conversation  between  the  aunt  and  niece  was  brief  after 
they  separated  from  Christie. 

"  You  are  always  thrusting  yourself  where  you  are  not  wanted," 
said  Ellen,  with  calm  insolence. 

"  Indeed,  Miss  Malapert!  and  I  should  like  to  know  what  pros 
pect  you  would  have  for  winning  Christie's  hand  without  my  as 
sistance,  eh  !" 

"  On  the  contrary,  your  offensive  and  turbulent  interference  is 
the  most  formidable  obstacle  I  have  to  contend  with.  It  is  strange 
what  a  savage  beast  you  make  of  yourself." 

Mrs.  Kane  seized  Ellen  by  the  arm,  and  bending  a  fierce  glance 
upon  her,  exclaimed  : 

"  You  are  a  deceitful,  lying,  hypocritical  hussy,  and  can  cloak 
the  most  intense  meanness  under  an  appearance  of  candor  and  gen- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY  27 

tleness.  Have  a  care,  miss,  or  I  will  thwart  your  designs  upon 
Christie." 

"  No  you  won't,  because  in  doing-  so  you  will  thwart  your  own, 
my  precious  Aunty.  So  good  bye.  No,  you  will  think  better  of 
it,  because  you  can't  afford  to  thwart  rny  designs  upon  Christie 
Kane,  and  you  told  a  lie  when  you  said  so.  dear  Aunty.  Just  peep 
into  the  glass  now,  and  see  how  beautifully  you  look  when  you 
froth  so  at  the  mouth.  See  how  much  better  my  placid  face  ap 
pears,  especially  when  I  smile.  Good  bye,  Aunty  ;  you  won't 
thwart  my  designs  upon  Christie,  will  you  1  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !" 

With  a  graceful  courtesy  she  departed,  leaving  Mrs.  Kane  over 
come  with  rage. 

Slowly  the  maiden  proceeded  homewards,  revolving  in  her  mind 
the  most  effectual  plan  to  accomplish  her  designs  upon  her  cousin. 

"  It  is  strange  how  difficult  it  is  to  force  a  declaration  from  the 
obstinate  fellow,"  she  soliloquised,  "  and  yet  I  am  considered  hand 
some,  and,  thanks  to  my  powers  of  deceit,  as  Mrs.  Kane  calls  it, 
I  am  thought  very  agreeable.  Others  call  me  beautiful,  for  their 
eyes  tell  me  so.  And  Lord  Melville,  too,  could  not  disguise  his 
admiration.  It  is  strange  what  an  influence  his  lordship  exercises 
over  me  since  I  was  magnetised  by  him  at  Bath.  I  am  certain 
there  is  a  peculiar  charm  in  being  magnetised  by  a  lord  that  a  com 
mon  person  cannot  elicit.  The  sensation  that  stole  through  my 
limbs  and  crept  along  my  arteries,  was,  I  am  sure,  more  extatic 
than  if  any  one  but  a  lord  had  produced  the  excitement.  And  then 
the  dreamy  delight  which  succeeded  was  more  soothing  and  pro 
found.  Most  decidedly  should  1  prefer  being  excited  into  the  deli 
cious  state  of  magnetism  by  one  of  the  nobility  ;  the  pressure  of 
whose  fingers  could  produce  such  delight  as  those  of  a  lord  1  Who 
could,  with  such  assurance,  instil  the  mysterious  and  rapturous  bliss 
into  my  frame  !  But  the  reaction  that  succeeded  !  I  attended  a 
concert  the  same  evening,  and  when  he  entered  the  room,  a  cold 
shudder  passed  through  my  frame,  which,  without  my  seeing  him, 
warned  me  of  his  approach.  I  was  obliged  to  leave  the  room,  and 
during  the  long  night  they  were  anxiously  watching  over  my 
couch.  The  restoratives  produced  a  temporary  relief,  but  it  was 
only  by  several  days  of  repose  that  I  was  freed  from  the  excess  of 
animal  magnetism  with  which  my  body  was  surcharged  by  the 
graceful  Lord  Melville.  Mrs.  Skevvton  was  affected  by  his  lord 
ship  in  the  same  way.  It  is  strange  that  her  form  is  so  easily  ex 
cited,  for  she  is  quite  thirty-four ;  a  period  of  life  when  it  is  sup 
posed  the  nerves  of  the  human  form  are  not  so  easily  influenced  by 
contact,  as  at  a  more  youthful  age,  especially  if,  as  in  the  case  of 
Mrs.  Skewton,  the  female  has  given  birth  to  three  or  four  children, 
besides  having  been  troubled  for  any  number  of  years  with  those 
complaints  incident  to  our  sex.  Be  that  as  it  may,  Mrs.  Skewton 
declared  that  she  should  never,  she  was  certain  she  should  not,  be 
relieved  from  the  overdose  of  magnetism  which  Lord  Melville  con 
descended  to  give  her.  And  her  eyes  did  have  a  languishing  ap 
pearance,  and  her  form  did  tremble  as  if  it  desired  the  sustaining 
arm.  of  his  Lordship,  notwithstanding  she  is  upon  the  shady  side  of 
life,  and  her  frame  has  been  tested  in  the  manner — but  here  I  am 


28    '  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

talking  to  myself.  Enough  of  Mrs.  Skewton.  I  shall  suffer  Lord 
Melville  to  cultivate  me,  and  perchance  lie  can  assist  my  *  designs,' 
as  Aunty  calls  them,  upon  Chester  Kane." 

The  unscrupulous  girl,  with  a  sneering  response  to  her  mother  s 
salutation,  entered  her  room  and  banged  to  the  door.  Standing  in 
front  of  the  glass,  she  gazed  with  savage  delight  upon  the  gentle 
face  that  was  now  transformed  into  the  lineaments  of  a  fiend. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  won't  I  astonish  master  Christie  when  he  is  mine  ? 
I'll  teach  the  prudent  and  courteous  boy  that  hell  is  preferable  to 
my  company.  Won't  I  adopt  every  expedient  to  torture  the  gen 
tleman?  Hatefulness  shall,  for  the  future,  be  what  deception  has 
been  for  the  past— my  study— my  thought  by  day— my  dream  by 
night;  and  when  he  turns  to  upbraid  me  and  meets  a  look  like  this, 
won't  he  shudder  ?  Ha  !  ha  !  ha!" 

And  the  face  of  the  girl  was  contorted  into  an  expression  that  a 
maniac  would  have  envied. 

Throwing  herself  upon  the  sofa,  her  face  once  more  assumed  its 
natural  beauty  and  repose.  It  was  one  of  those  clear,  open,  frank, 
countenances,  which,  as  well  as  the  fair  complexion  and  the  light 
auburn  hair,  may  sometimes  be  called  emblematical  of  gentleness, 
but  whose  possessors  often  become  notorious  for  their  diabolical 
cruelty.  It  was  that  complexion  and  color  of  hair  which  we  find 
so  difficult  to  associate  with  Lucrezia  Borgia,  while  we  mistakingly 
attribute  to  her  the  darkest  hair  and  lineaments  of  her  country. 

She  matured  her  plans  by  resolving  to  call  upon  Lord  Melville 
for  assistance.  It  was  necessary  for  Christie  Kane  to  be  persecu 
ted.  The  most  rigorous  enactments  of  the  law  were  to  be  put  in 
force  for  the  collection  of  rent,  even  to  the  extremity  of  turning  her 
aunt  and  cousin  from  home.  She  saw  no  other  way  of  humiliating 
Christie  so  that  he  would  apply  to  her  father  for  that  assistance 
which  would  alone  save  him  from  absolute  want,  if  not  from  the 
rigors  of  a  prison.  With  a  triumphant  expression  upon  her  face, 
she  approached  the  window  and  clapped  her  hands  with  joy  as  she 
saw  Lord  Melville  riding  up  the  avenue  leading  to  the  house. 

She  welcomed  the  young  nobleman  with  downcast  eyes  and  fal 
tering  words,  as  though  she  was  agitated  by  his  presence.  Mel 
ville  'made  his  salutation  with  that  easy  assurance  which  the  Eng 
lish  aristocracy  exhibit  while  in  the  presence  of  their  inferiors,  and 
which,  by  the  way,  is  in  marked  contrast  to  their  bearing  when  con 
fronted  by  their  superiors. 

"  Existence  has  been  unendurable,  Miss  Knowles,  since  1  saw 
you  last,  and  it  gives  me  the  most  intense  delight  to  behold  you 
again." 

And  he  gave  the  hand  of  the  placid  maiden  a  prolonged  squeeze. 
"  Your  lordship  is  altogether  too  condescending,  to  keep  my  poor 
self  so  long  in  your  memory." 

"You  do  me  shocking  injustice,  'p°n  me  honor  you  do,  me 
charming  damsel.  Now,  really,  I  have  been  dying  to  see  you 
again." 

"  I  cannot  believe  your  language  is  candid. 

"  And  why  not,  pray  7"  n 

"  Because  you  act  cruelly  towards  my  relations. 


AND  AMEEUCAN  SLAVERY.  20 

**  Don't  say  so.  To  whom  have  I  been  guilty  of  wrong  ?  I 
was  not  aware  that  you  had  any  lovely  cousins." 

Ellen  could  not  repress  a  feeling  of  disgust  at  the  egotism  of  the 
nobleman,  yet  she  replied  calmly  : 

"  I  do  not  refer  to  any  one  who  may  have  found  the  graces  of 
your  person,  and  the  fascination  of  your  manners^too  powerful  for 
their  susceptible  hearts." 

"  To  whom,  then,  can  you  possibly  allude,  loveliest  of  your  sex." 

"To  my  cousin,  Christie  Kane." 

Melville  started. 

"  Is  it  possible,  Miss  Knowles,  that  the  boor,  Kane,  can  be  your 
cousin  ?" 

"  It  is  true  ;  but  I  hope  your  lordship  will  have  the  kindness  to 
overlook  a  fault  which  cannot  strictly  be  laid  to  me,  as  we  may  not 
always  have  it  in  our  power  to  locate  our  relatives  in  precisely  the 
grade  of  society  most  suited  to  our  tastes.  This  fact  your  lordship 
will  not  be  disposed  to  controvert,  as  your  great  aunt  formed  a  ten 
der  connection  with  her  footrnan." 

"  Hell  and  damnation  !"  muttered  the  nobleman. 

"  Now  I  have  a  great  favor  to  ask  of  your  lordship,"  continued 
Ellen  innocently,  as  if  unconscious  of  the  affect  produced  by  her 
sarcasm. 

"  Oh,  very  well,  you  have  put  me  in  the  proper  mood  for  grant 
ing  it,"  said  Melville  savagely. 

"  That  was  what  I  was  desirous  of  doing.  My  cousin  is  a  ten 
ant  of  your  gracious  father.  It  is  hopelessly  out  of  his  power  to 
pay  his  rent." 

A  gleam  of  joy,  which  did  not  escape  the  notice  of  Ellen,  flashed 
across  the  countenance  of  Melville. 

"  He  cannot  pay  the  rent,  hey "?" 

"Your  lordship  understood  me  correctly." 

"  And  you  wish  me  to  interfere  in  his  behalf?''  he  continued,  rub 
bing  his  hands  gleefully. 

"  If  your  lordship  can  forget  how  immeasurably  he  is  beneath 
your  family  in  position,  if  we  may  except  the  great  aunt  whom  I 
mentioned  as  having  formed  an  attachment  for  her  foot " 

"  Your  cousin  shall  hear  from  me,"  exclaimed  Melville  in  aloud 
voice,  as  he  rose  abruptly. 

"  Pray  be  seated,  my  lord.  I  hope  you  will  not  mention  to 
Christie  Kane,  or  to  any  one  likely  to  communicate  the  information 
to  him,  that  I  have  been  instrumental  in  averting  misfortune  from 
him." 

"  He  shall  remain  profoundly  ignorant  of  all  the*  benefits  which 
your  information  will  confer  upon  him,"  said  the  other  sarcastically. 

"  I  thank  your  lordship,"  said  Ellen,  with  a  grateful  look,  "  for 
the  pleasure  which  this  assurance  gives  me.  You  know  we  can 
not  feel  otherwise  than  solicitous  for  our  kindred,  notwithstanding 
their  plebeian  origin,  as  in  the  case  of  my  cousin  Christie,  or  any 
departure  from  the  strict  rules  of  proprietv,  as  in  the  case  of  your 
great " 

"  Good  morning !"  shouted  Melville,  as  he  closed  the  door 
violently. 


80  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

Ellen  Knowles  watched  the  receding  form  of  her  visitor  as,  plung 
ing-  the  rowels  into  his  horse,  he  rode  furiously  away. 

"He  is  in  a  delightful  mood  now  for  attending  "to  the  case  of 
Christie  Kane.,  Thanks  to  the  faux  pas  of  his  great  aunt,  I  was 
enabled  to  stimulate  his  ferocity  and  arouse  his  revenge  by  lancing 
his  family  pride.  Every  conceivable  crime  of  which  England's 
monarchs  and  England's  nobility  have  been  guilty,  gives  the  humbler 
born  a  glorious  opportunity  of  calling  a  little  of  the  "  best  blood ' 
to  the  cheeks  of  their  descendants.'1  Thus  soliloquized  this  flint- 
hearted  girl,  whose  native  talents  were  desecrated  to  the  purposes 
of  malignity  and  revenge. 

She  had  not.  miscalculated  the  effect  produced  upon  Lord  Mel 
ville  by  her  information  and  the  taunts  by  which  it  was  accompan 
ied.  That  person  had  not  forgotten  the  part  taken  by  his  father's 
tenant  in  the  race  which  resulted  in  his  immersion  in  the  sheet  of 
water  that  ornamented  Montague  park.  It  was,  then,  with  the  most 
determined  malice  that  he  sought  his  father's  steward  and  gave  him 
specific  directions  to  enforce  every  remedy  which  the  law  gave  him 
upon  Christie  Kane.  Leaving  wickedness  to  its  work,  we  must 
call  the  reader's  attention  to  Robert  Kane,  another  character  whose 
career  we  have  undertaken  to  delineate. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  Go,  then — 'tis  vain  to  hover 

Thus  round  a  hope  that's  dead  ; 
At  length  my  dream  is  over  ; 
'Twas  sweet — 'twas  false — 'tis  fled  !" — MOORE. 

IN  a  narrow  street  in  the  city  of  London  was  a  small  tenement 
inhabited  by  several  families.  They  belonged,  with  one  exception, 
to  that  poor  but  honest  class  who  manage,  by  the  aid  of  pinching 
economy,  to  live  from  "  hand  to  mouth,"  as  the  independent  some 
times  call  it.  Although  to  the  uninitiated  it  may  be  a  very  amusing 
expression,  yet  to  those  accustomed  to  test  its  bitter  experience,  it 
often  presents  the  dread  reality  of  anguish  and  despair.  The  ten 
ants  of  this  dilapidated  building,  however,  were,  in  the  main,  ex 
empted  from  those  vicissitudes  which  the  day-laborer  so  much  ap 
prehends.  They  managed  to  return,  at  a  late  hour,  with  sufficient 
money  to  supply  their  moderate  wants  for  the  next  twenty-four 
hours.  One  family,  however,  that  helped  to  make  up  the  little 
world,  possessed  no  ostensible  means  of  support,  and  yet  they  were 
rather  more  bountifully  supplied  with  the  necessaries  of  life  than 
the  rest.  In  what  manner  they  were  acquired,  no  one  knew,  al 
though  all  had  their  suspicions.  The  members  of  this  family  con 
sisted  of  the  father,  two  boys,  and  one  little  girl.  They  remained 
at  home  during  the  day,  but  sallied  out  at  night,  and  returned  Jong 
after  their  wearied  neighbors  were  asleep.  The  father  was  a  di 
minutive  fellow,  with  a  dark,  sinister-looking  countenance.  It  was 
impossible  to  encounter  his  furtive  glance  without  a  feeling  of  ap- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  31 

prehension.  He  conversed  with  no  one  ;  and  if  by  chance  he  was 
met  in  the  little  hall,  or  upon  the  narrow  stair-case,  the  only  recog 
nition  he  vouchsafed  was  a  stealthy  look  from  his  half  averted  eye. 
His  children,  too,  were  morose  ;  and  if  they  met  those  of  their  own 
age,  it  was  with  grim  little  countenances.  Even  the  girl,  a  toddling 
thing,  three  years  old,  had  an  elfin  look.  The  whole  family  were 
regarded  with  a  feeling  of  apprehension  by  all  who  knew  them ; 
and,  to  add  still  more  to  their  unpopularity,  the  father  was  suspect 
ed  of  being  an  agent  of  the  press-gang,  whose  recent  operations  had 
carried  terror  into  the  houses  of  the  poor.  This  man  was  known 
as  Matthew  Riley.  It  was  in  this  humble  dwelling  that  Robert 
Kane,  the  brother  of  Christie,  resided.  He  occupied  but  one  room, 
and  within  its  narrow  limits  were  his  wife  and  children.  The  for 
mer  had  won  the  affections  of  Robert  Kane  by  her  sweet  face  and 
gentle  deportment,  and  despite  his  humble  prospects  they  were 
married.  Three  children  were  the  fruits  of  this  union,  a  boy  eight 
years,  a  girl  four  years,  and  an  infant  eight  months  old.  Into  this 
lowly  habitation  we  will  now  introduce  the  reader.  Mary  Kane 
was  busily  engaged  in  preparing  the  morning  meal.  Her  coun 
tenance  wore  a  contented  expression ;  and  she  alternately  talked 
with  Robert,  and  addressed  a  few  words,  in  the  language  of  a  moth 
er,  to  the  baby.  Kane  was  dressing  the  little  girl  in  his  awkward 
way,  while  Henry,  the  oldest  child,  was  playing  upon  the  floor  with 
"  Frank  Tot,"  as  he  called  the  infant. 

"  Why,  what  an  awkward  fellow  you  are,"  she  exclaimed,  as  she 
held  the  tea-kettle  in  both  hands  ;  "  you  have  put  Dolly's  shoe  on 
the  wrong  foot,  and,  as  I  live,  one  stocking  is  wrong  side  out.  Men 
never  can  do  any  thing  right." 

"Only  rig  ships  well,  Mary." 

"  Yes,  you  can  do  that,  for  I  heard  the  foreman  say  there  was 
not  a  more  skillful  rigger  in  his  employ."  ' 

"And  I  can  do  something  else." 

"What's  that?" 

"  Love  you." 

She  put  down  the  tea-kettle,  and  coming  over  to  where  he  sat, 
pinched  his  ear,  while  his  stalwart  arm  encircled  her  waist. 

"  I  believe  you  are  a  humbug,  Robert.  But  come,  breakfast  is 
ready,  and  I  want  you  out  of  the  room  so  that  I  can  put  it  to  rights, 
for  I  have  ever  so  much  to  do  to-day." 

"What?" 

"  Why,  wash,  and  iron,  and  mend  Henry's  coat,  and  cut  out  Dol 
ly's  frock,  and  get  your  supper  ready,  for  you  always  come  home 
so  hungry,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  that  is  one  consolation  the  poor  have." 

"  What  is  that  ?" 

"  Plenty  to  do,  and  a  good  appetite." 

"Ha!  ha!  Come,  now,  every  thing  is  ready  ;  place  Henry's 
and  Dolly's  chairs  to  the  table,  and  give  me  the  baby." 

"  Sha'nt  I  hold  him  ?" 

"  Catch  me  trusting  him  with  you  ;  Frank  is  too  precious  to  be 
scalded."  Squeezing  him  to  her  bosom,  she  inflicted  half  a  dozen 
kisses  upon  his  rosy  cheeks. 


82  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  And  now."  she  said,  when  the  frugal  meal  was  over,  "  you  may 
go.  Mr.  MacDougal  likes  punctuality.  Here  is  your  dinner  ;  all 
ready." 

"Thank  you,  Mary." 

"  What  a  careless  man  you  are.  Don't  you  see  it  looks  like  rain, 
and  you  going  without  your  thick  coat.  There,  now,  good-by." 

"  Good-by,  baby  ;  give  me  a  kiss." 

He  raised  the  child  cautiously,  as  though  he  was  fearful  that  his 
rough  hands  would  mar  the  delicate  limbs.  The  boy  waited  until 
his  father's  face  was  within  reach  of  his  dimpled  hand,  and  then  he 
inflicted  a  little  blow  upon  his  cheek.  Straightening  himself  up  for 
a  moment,  as  if  he  had  performed  a  wonderful  feat,  he  broke  out 
into  an  infantile  laugh,  which  was  re-echoed  by  Dolly  and  Henry. 
Robert  bent  his  head  until  his  stout  beard  came  rather  roughly  in 
contact  with  the  baby's  face.  The  laughter  was  hushed,  the  lip 
curled,  and  a  sob — a  premonitory  symptom  of  a  tear — was  heard, 
when  he  was  suddenly  raised  to  the  full  height  of  Kane's  elevated 
arm.  Clapping  his  hands,  every  sign  of  grief  disappeared  from  his 
chubby  countenance. 

"  There,  there  now,  will  you  never  have  done  with  such  folly. 
It  was  only  last  week  that  Daniel  Doughty  let  his  child  fall,  and 
broke  one  of  his  legs." 

"  I'm  going.     Take  good  care  of  the  children." 

And  the  happy  fellow  went  whistling  down  stairs.  In  the  lower 
hall  he  met  Riley,  who  was  just  returning  from  his  night  wander 
ing.  He  threw  a  stealthy  glance  at  Kane,  and  was  sneaking  past 
him,  when  the  latter  arrested  his  footsteps  by  placing  his  stalwart 
form  in  the  centre  of  the  passage. 

"  Don't  you  touch  me,  Robert  Kane,  if  you  do,  I  will  call  in  the 
police,"  exclaimed  Riley  in  a  sharp  voice. 

"  Look  you,"  said  Robert,  sternly,  "  it  would  require  a  strong 
provocation  to  induce  me  to  soil  my  hands  by  touching  your  car° 
cass.  But  if,  as  I  suspect,  you  are  in  any  way  connected  with 
the  press  gang,  you  had  best  get  your  neck  insured,  that's  all." 

"  Threaten  me,  do  you  ?  I'll  see  whether  her  Majesty's  liege 
subjects  are  to  have  their  lives  put  in  danger."  He  made  a  mo 
tion  as  if  to  approach  the  door,  but  his  progress  was  arrested  by 
the  strong  arm  of  the  other. 

"  Mathew  Riley,  I  am  a  hard  working,  honest  man,  and  support 
my  family  by  daily  labor.  You  never  work,  and  it  is  thought  you 
obtain  money  by  means  that  only  a  villain  would  resort  to.  Now 
then,  if  you  take  food  from  the  mouths  of  my  wife  and  children, 
by  causing  me  to  be  arrested,  I  will  slay  you  as  if  you  were  a  mad 
dog.  Go !" 

The  malignity  of  a  fiend  gleamed  upon  the  cadaverous  features 
of  Riley  as  he  glided  away. 

Mary  Kane,  with  a  light  heart  attended  to  her  household  duties. 
She  first  washed  up  the  breakfast  things,  and  then  commenced 
cutting  out  the  frock  for  Dolly. 

*'  Ma,  shan't  Dolly  and  I  go  out  and  play  while  you  put  Frank 
Tot  to  sleep  ?" 

"  Do  you  want  to  leave  me  ?" 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  S3 

"  No,  but  ma,  I  can't  keep  Doll  from  laughing,  and  she  will  be 
sure  to  wake  Tot.  She  is  always  a-giggling." 

"And  for  the  matter  of  that  I  think  you  are  fond  of  laughing  as 
well  as  Doli." 

"That's  because  she  says  such  funny  things.  She  told  me  yes 
terday  she  should  be  very  happy  if  I  could  be  quiet,  for  she  was 
sick  and  tired  to  death  with  my  nonsense.  What  a  speech  for  lit 
tle  Doll  to  make,  wasn't  it,  ma  ?" 

"  It  was  rather  funny,"  replied  the  fond  mother. 

•'  Ma,  let  Henry  and  me  go  into  the  great  park  in  the  next  street 
and  play  with  all  the  fine  little  boys  and  girls." 

"  You  can't  go  there,  my  dear." 

"  Why  not,  ma  ?" 

"  Because  no  one  but  rich  people's  children  go  there." 

*'  And  why  are  no  poor  little  boys  and  girls  let  go  in  ?" 

"  Because — because — " 

"  Because  what,  ma  ?" 

"  Because  the  parents  of  poor  children  do  not  own  the  land  ?" 

"  What  does  own  the  land  mean  ?"  inquired  Henry,  for  Dolly 
was  pondering  over  the  hard  fate  of  poor  little  children. 

"  To  do  with  it  as  they  please,  I  suppose." 

*'  Then  I  will  tell  my  father  to  buy  some  land,  for  it  would  make 
Dolly  so  happy  to  run  through  such  shady  walks  as  those  in  that 
park.  And  brother,  too,  wouldn't  he  clap  his  hands  ?  Father 
must  buy  some  land  when  he  goes  out  to-morrow.  And  then  I 
would  let  all  the  poor  children — all  the  good  poor  children,  run 
through  the  park,  and  all  the  rich  children,  too ;  for  they  must  all 
be  good  or  they  would  not  be  dressed  so  fine." 

"  Oh,  yes!  do  let  pa  buy  a  park,  won't  you,  ma1?  He  will  do 
anything  for  you,"  exclaimed  Dolly,  joyfully. 

Mary  Kane  was  silent,  and  tears  gathered  in  her  eyes  as  she 
contemplated  the  hard  fate  which  her  offspring  were  doomed  to  en 
counter  in  their  brief  journey  through  life.  Thinking  it  better  to 
apprise  them  at  once,  as  far  as  she  was  able,  of  the  distinctions 
made  by  the  political  and  social  laws  of  England,  she  laid  the  baby 
in  the  cradle,  and  quietly  rocking  it  with  one  foot,  took  Dolly  upon 
her  knee,  and  proceeded  to  reveal  her  stock  of  information. 

"  Well,  ma,  tell  us ;  me  and  sissy." 

"  You  have,  my  children,  seen  ladies  and  gentlemen  riding  on 
horseback  and  in  carriages  ?" 

"Yes, ma." 

"  Dressed  in  rich  clothing  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  such  beautiful  dresses!"  exclaimed  Henry. 

"  Well,  those  are  called  favored  people." 

"  Why  so  ?" 

"  Because  they  perform  no  labor,  and  go  where  they  please." 

"  Don't  they  eat  ?"  asked  Dolly. 

"Of  course  they  eat." 

"  And  don't  they  work  so  as  to  get  bread  like  father  does  ?" 

"No." 

Both  the  children  paused  in  mute  wonder,  for  they  could  not 
comprehend  how  people  could  live  without  work. 

3 


84  EXGL.ISH  SERFDOM 

But,  ma,  aint  they  human  beings,  like  we  are?"  said  Henry, 
,o  the  attack. 


. 

"  Well,  the  bible  says  that  the  descendants  of  Adam  shall  earn 
their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brows.  But  perhaps  they  are 
not  the  descendants  of  Adam,  for  they  look  so  much  handsomer  than 
ragged  persons." 

"  They  are  all  descendants  of  Adam  and  Eve,  and  the  reason 
why  they  are  so  much  more  beautiful  is  because  they  have  never 
been  accustomed  to  toil." 

"  If  they  are  human  beings  they  ought  to  obey  the  bible,  and 
work,"  said  Henry  positively. 

"  Ma,  if  they  don't  work,  who  gives  them  bread,  and  meat,  and 
tea?"  asked  Dolly  anxiously. 

"  A  certain'portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  England,  by  the  operation 
of  laws  which  they  have  themselves  made,  live  in  idleness,  while 
all  the  rest  labor  to  support  them." 

Dolly  pondered  over  this  information  as  though  she  was  sadly 
puzzled,  but  Henry,  after  a  few  moments'  reflection,  inquired, 

"  Did  God  make  these  laws  ?" 

"  No." 

"  Then  why  do  the  poor  people  obey  Them  ?" 

**  Our  masters  are  so  powerful  that  we  have  to  submit." 

"  But  father,  I  am  sure,  is  stronger  than  either  of  those  richly 
clothed  gentlemen  ;  why  don't  he  make  them  work?"  said  the  boy 
eagerly. 

"  They  make  some  of  the  lower  class,  as  they  call  them,  force 
the  rest  to  perform  labor." 

"  And  do  they  3" 

"  Yes." 

"  /  would  not,"  he  exclaimed  stoutly. 

"  Then  they  would  make  the  others  kill  you." 

Dolly  opened  her  eyes  at  this  intelligence,  and  throwing  her 
arms  round  her  brother's  neck,  clung  convulsively  there. 

"  I  will  explain  the  matter  to  you  as  I  have  heard  your  father 
tell  it.  The  nobility,  and  gentry,  have  divided  the  kingdom 
among  themselves,  each  renting  the  portion  allotted  to  him  to  land 
lords,  who  in  turn  underlet  to  the  farmers.  The  landlords  pay  rent 
to  the  nobility,  and  gentry,  and  the  farmers  pay  rent  to  them, 
so  that  the  land  is  cultivated,  the  crops  are  raised  and  sent  to  mar 
ket,  so  that  the  privileged  classes  receive  their  rent  and  live  without 
work.  But  as  the  laboring  part  of  the  people  think  this  is  wrong 

"  So  do  I !"  cried  Henry. 

'  The  government  have  taken  measures  to  see  that  it  is  done." 
'  How,  ma !" 

'  You  have  seen  the  soldiers  marching  through  the  streets  with 
flags  and  drums  *" 

*  Oh  yes  ;  and  I  have  often  wished  that  I  might  be  a  soldier  too." 
'These  soldiers  are  dressed  up  and  armed  with  guns  and  swords 
to  make  the  poor  people  perform  their  tasks." 
"  Father,  too  ?" 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  35 

1  Yes." 

'  Then  I  will  never  want  to  become  a  soldier  again." 
>     '  But  they  will  make  you,  perhaps." 

'  And  force  me  to  fire  upon  poor  creatures'?" 
*  Whose  strength  cannot  endure  the  heavy  burden  they  are  com 
pelled  to  perform,  and  upon  whose  cheeks  the  sweat  mingles  with 
their  tears." 

"  I  tell  you  I  won't  do  it,"  exclaimed  the  child  passionately,  as 
his  lips  curled,  and  the  large  tears  gathered  in  his  eye. 

"  I  will  tell  you  how  they  will  force  you.  They  will  reduce  your 
wages  as  a  laborer  so  low  that  you  cannot  buy  bread  enough  to  keep 
you  from  starving  ;  and  when  you  are  very,"i?ery  hungry,  you  will 
be  willing  to  do  anything  to  obtain  food,  even  if  it  is  to  enlist  as  a 
soldier." 

Henry  rested  his  head  upon  his  hand  as  he  felt  the  truth  of  her 
words. 

"  If  they  should  fail  in  this,  they  will  seize  upon  your  person  if 
necessary." 

"What,  ma,  in  free  and  happy  England,  as  Mr.  Kossuth  said  it 
was." 

"  My  child,  there  is  no  freedom  in  England  for  the  poor  ;  it  only 
exists  for  the  favored  class.  We  are  crushed  to  the  earth  by  laws 
that  force  us  to  toil  from  daylight  until  dark  for  the  paltry  pittance 
which  is  scarcely  sufficient  to  keep  starvation  from  our  doors,  while 
the  rest  is  exacted  to  fatten  a  pampered  aristocracy.  No,  Henry, 
there  is  no  freedom  for  you,  for  when  the  government  requires  your 
services  as  a  soldier  or  a  sailor,  the  press-gang  will  seize  you  as 
they  have  seized  thousands  before." 

"  But,  ma,  why  do  they  become  soldiers  ?" 
1  Because  a  disobedience  of  orders  is  punished  with  death." 
"  I  would  die,  then." 

"No,  you  would  not ;  you  would  follow  the  examples  of  those 
foolish  men  who,  for  the  shadow  of  military  glory,  will  turn  their 
arms  against  friends  as  well  as  foes." 

"  What  is  the  shadow  of  military  glory,  ma  ?"  asked  Henry. 
"  It  is  losing  one's  health,  and  limbs,  and  life,  for  nothing  but  to 
confer  honor  and  glory  upon  one's  masters.  The  common  soldier 
gains  nothing  by  the  battles  in  which  he  perils  his  life  ;  on  the  con 
trary,  he  rivets  more  closely  the  chains  which  bind  his  class,  be 
cause  he  increases  the  power  and  renown  of  his  tyrants." 

"  But  I  heard  father  say  that  money  and  honors  had  been  given 
the  iron  Duke.  Why  do  they  call  him  the  iron  Duke  ?" 

"  Because  he  won  those  honors  and  that  money  by  sacrificing, 
without  remorse,  the  lives  of  his  men.  Yes,  they  have  showered 
honors  and  wealth  upon  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  but  what  has  be 
come  of  those  poor  fellows  by  whose  aid  he  acquired  his  renown  ?" 
"  Do  you  mean  his  soldiers,  ma  1  Ain't  they  the  officers  I  see 
so  handsomely  dressed  and  who  ride  such  splendid  horses  ?" 

"  Alas  !  no,  my  child.  Most  of  them  have  crumbled  into  dust, 
and  now  enrich  the  soil  of  Portugal,  Spain,  and  Belgium,  or  are 
lying  far  down  in  the  deep,  dark  sea."15 

"  But  if  they  cover  up  soldiers  in  the  ground,  and,  as  father  said, 


36  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

without  coffins,  and  put  the  sailors  into  the  sea,  for  the  fishes  to  eat, 
why  are  they  so  careful  to  put  the  dead  bodies  of  the  Iron  Duke 
and  Lord  Nelson  where  not  even  the  worms  can  get  at  them  ?  Didn't 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  fight  for  their  country  too  ?" 
"  Yes,  they  suffered  more. than  the  officers.'* 
"  Then  why  should  they  be  treated  like  dogs  ?"  said  Henry  im 
patiently. 

"  Because,  having  won  victories  for  England,  and  lost  their  lives, 
the  government  could  gain  nothing  by  decently  burying  their  remains. 
But  they  can  strengthen  their  own  power  by  fawning  upon  the 
chieftain." 

"  Are  Wellington's  and  Nelson's  men  all  dead,  ma,"  he  inquired 
sorrowfully. 

"  Not  all ;  there  are  some  survivors." 

"  They  must  be  well  fed  and  clothed,"  he  said,  confidently. 

"  Henry,  did  you  ever  pass  by  the  Workhouse  in  — street  ?" 

"  Yes,  ma,"  he  replied  with  a  shudder. 

"  And  you  have  seen  half  a  dozen  old  men  with  trembling  limbs, 
snow  white  hair,  and  shriveled  faces'?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  and  I  have  pitied  them  so  often.  The  boys  call  them 
crazy." 

"  Want  of  food  and  hard  labor  caused  a  loss  of  mind,  and  now 
those  helpless  old  men  are  left  to  drag  out  the  remainder  of  their 
miserable  lives,  with  no  home,  no  relations,  no  friends." 

A  loud  sob  burst  from  Dolly,  whose  cheek  rested  upon  her  mo 
ther's  bosom,  as  she  listened  with  all  her  little  might  to  the  con 
versation. 

"  Mother !"  exclaimed  the  boy,  springing  from  his  chair,  "  you 
don't  mean  to  say  them  old  men  wrere  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo  ?" 

"All." 

"  Then  if  I  wasn't  afraid  to  swear,  I  would  curse  the  government 
for  its  meanness." 

"  Hush  !  you  must  not  talk  so." 

"  I  would,  ma,  so  I  would,  and  I  will  too  when  I  am  old  enough 
not  to  be  afraid  of  swearing." 

With  doubled  fists  he  paraded  across  the  narrow  floor  for  several 
minutes,  until  his  excited  feelings  were  calmed  down,  and  then  he 
seated  himself  again,  while  Dolly  continued  to  weep  over  the  suf 
ferings  of  the  poor  old  men. 

"  But  why  don't  they  give  them  something  more  to  eat  T' 

"  It  takes  all  the  money  to  pay  for  the  fine  clothes,  splendid  car 
riages,  and  magnificent  buildings  of  the  nobility." 

"  And  the  old  soldiers  and  sailors  must  be  hungry  T' 

"Yes." 

Henry  was  silent  for  several  minutes,  and  then  he  exclaimed, 
joyfully, 

"  Ma,  ma,  I'll  tell  you  what  can  be  done  for  them.  Food  can 
be  raised  from  the  ground,  and  then  they  will  not  be  hungry." 

"  The  earth  will  only  yield  a  certain  quantity." 

"  Yes,  but  the  earth  is  not  all  cultivated.  Don't  you  remember 
when  we  were  at  grandma's  I  saw  a  large  park  belonging  to  the 
Duke  of  Sunderland,  in  which  nothing  grew  1  Now,  enough 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  87 

wheat  and  potatoes  would  grow  in  that  park  to  feed  all  the  soldiers 
and  sailors,  I  am  sure  there  would  ;  and  then  they  would  look 
cheerful  and  be  happy,  wouldn't  they,  ma  T' 

Dolly's  face  brightened  at  this  new  idea,  which  she  managed, 
with  some  difficulty,  to  comprehend. 

"  You  forget,  Henry,  that  those  parks  belong  to  the  nobility. 
There  are  deer,  and  pheasants,  and  other  game  in  them,  which  the 
rich  people  hunt  during  certain  portions  of  the  year." 

"  And  be  the  parks  only  used  by  game  1" 

"  That  is  all.  They  are  devoted  to  the  pleasure  of  the  nobility." 

"  And  does  it  give  the  nobility  pleasure  to  do  anything  that  will 
make  the  poor  hungry  ?" 

"  What  odd  questions  you  do  ask,  Henry  !  Come,  you  had  bet 
ter  get  your  hat  and  go  out  to  play.  I  don't  like  to  think,  much 
less  to  talk,  upon  this  subject,  for  it  always  puts  me  in  an  ill  humor, 
and  then  I'm  not  cheerful  when  your  father  comes  home." 

"  Dear  ma,  answer  my  question.  Does  it  give  the  nobility 
pleasure  to  make  the  poor  hungry  ?" 

"  Oh !  I  suppose  they  don't  think  anything  about  it." 

"  But  don't  they  see  the  ragged  clothes  and  pale  faces  of  the 
poor  ?" 

"  Doubtless." 

;'  Then  why  don't  they  tell  them  to  go  into  the  park  and  raise 
food,  instead  of  letting  wild  beasts  occupy  them." 

Mrs.  Kane  did  not  reply. 

"  Perhaps  they  think  the  old  soldier  is  not  as  good  as  wild 
beasts  ?" 

"  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  say  that !" 

"  Well,  they  don't  think  an  old  man  is  as  good  as  a  hound." 

"  Why  ?» 

"  Because  1  saw  Lord  Melville  strike  an  old  man  with  his  whip, 
when  he  slily  picked  up  a  piece  of  meat  that  Lord  Melville  threw 
to  his  dog." 

"The  English  nobility  inherit  their  power  by  descent,  my  child, 
and  they  are  accustomed  to  think  of  nothing  but  their  own  plea 
sure.  They  regard  the  lower  classes  only  as  soulless,  feelingless 
instruments  to  minister  to  their  happiness." 

"  What  is  inheriting  power  by  descent  ?" 

"  The  wealth  and  power  of  the  father  belongs  to  his  oldest  son 
after  the  parents'  death." 

"  What  becomes  of  the  other  children  ?" 

"They  have  to  take  care  of  themselves." 

"  What  funny  people  the  nobility  are.  Don't  you  love  brother 
and  sis  as  well  as  you  do  me?" 

"  That  I  do,"  and  she  pressed  Dolly  fondly  in  her  arms. 

"  Why  do  they  love  the  oldest  child  the  best  then." 

"  I  suppose  they  do  not,  but  the  law,  I  believe,  settles  the  pro 
perty  upon  the  oldest  child." 

"  Don't  they  make  the  laws  ?" 

"  Yes,  but  they  wish  to  keep  the  wealth  and  power  of  the  king 
dom  in  the  hands  of  a  few  individuals." 

"  The  nobility,"  said  Henry,  musingly,  "  give  their  property  to 


38  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

the  oldest  son,  and  they  would  let  poor  little  brother,  Frank  Tot 
take  care  of  himself,  and  they  feed  beasts  and  let  poor  old  people 
starve.  I  think  the  nobility  are  bad.  mean,  persons ;  that  I  do  » 

Come,  now,  take  Dolly  and  go  play  in  the  street.     I  will  call 
you  when  dinner  is  ready."    - 

With  compressed  lips  and  a  stern  brow  the  boy  took  his  sister's 
nand,  and  together  they  descended  the  staircase,  mutterino-  as  he 
went — 
„    "  Poor  old  soldiers  treated  worse  than  dogs." 

"  What's  dat  you  say,  Henry  ?"  asked  Dolly. 
'  Let  us  go  and  sit  down  upon  that  bench,  and  I  will  tell  you  all 
about  it." 

Together  they  seated  themselves  upon  the  old  bench,  and  Henry 
recapitulated  all  that  he  remembered  of  the  grievances  of  the  lower 
classes,  and  the  oppressions  of  the  rich.  Her  tears  flowed  afresh, 
and  she  sobbed  herself  to  sleep.  Resting  her  head  upon  his  lap, 

e  took  off  his  coat  to  prevent  her  from  catching  cold.     And  there 

e  sat,  watching  over  the  sleeper  until  the  sun  had  mounted  to  the 
meridian.  She  was  sleeping  sweetly  when  three  boys  smartly 
dressed  came  down  the  street,  loudly  talking  and  laughing. 

A  flush  of  anger  overspread  the  face  of  Henry  Kane,  when  he 
discovered  they  belonged  to  a  class  who  were  guilty  of  such  heart- 
;s  cruelty  as  his  mother  had  portrayed.     The  youngsters,  who 
were  about  his  own  age,  stopped  near  where  Henry  sat 

Oh,  here  is  fun  for  us !"  exclaimed  one  of  them,  as  he  directed 
the  attention  of  his  companions  to  the  sleeping  child. 

Henry  raised  his  hand  with  an  imploring  gesture  as  they  ap 
proached  ;  but  their  laughter  awakened  her.  Rubbing  her  eyes,  she 
looked  up,  and,  gazing  upon  the  derisive  countenances  of  the  rude 
boys  for  a  moment,  she  clung  to  her  brother  for  protection. 

"  See  how  his  sweetheart  clings  to  him.     Ha  !  ha  !" 

"  She  is  my  little  sister ;  go  away,  you  frighten  her." 

"  His  little  sister.  Come,  little  sisjook.this  way,  and  let  us  see 
if  you  are  handsome." 

"  You  are  bad,  bad  boys,  to  scare  a  little  child  so.  Go  away,  I 
tell  you.  Pray,  Mr.  Riley,  make  these  wicked  lads  leave  us  alone." 

The  mischievous  fellows  turned  in  momentary  alarm  ;  but  seeing 
the  malicious  grin  upon  the  face  of  Riley,  and  the  smile  of  the  one- 
eyed  man  who  stood  by  his  side,  they  followed  the  retreatino-  forms 
of  Henry  and  his  sister. 

"Go  it,  my  young  gallants  !"  exclaimed  Hurdy,  the  one-eyed 
fellow,  who  was  known  as  a  savage  member  of  the  press-gang  that 
infested  the  neighborhood. 

One  of  the  boys  seized  Dolly's  frock,  and  held  her  fast. 

"  Leay^  her  alone  !"  exclaimed  Henry,  fiercely. 

The  only  reply  was  a  violent  jerk,  which  threw  her  upon  the 
pavement,  from  whence  she  arose  with  the  blood  flowing  from  a  cut 
in  her  cheek. 

A  sudden  blow  from  Henry's  clenched  fist  knocked  the  offender- 
down.  Springing  to  his  feet,  he  returned  the  assault. 

k'At  him,  my  little  gentleman;  show  the  beggar  how  you  can 
beat  him,"  cried  Hurdy. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  39 

Again  the  aggressor  tumbled  upon  the  pavement ;  and  this  time 
he  ran  bawling  away,  with  the  blood  spouting  from  his  nose. 

"  Let  them  both  at  him,"  whispered  Riley. 

"  I'm  d d  if  you  aint  right.  At  him  both  of  you,"  exclaimed 

the  brute. 

"  No,  no  !  be  Jasus  !  fair  play  is  a  jewel ;  one  at  a  time,"  said  a 
stout  voice  from  across  the  street. 

During  this  scene  Dolly  stood  by  a  post,  watching  them  in  silent 
terror. 

Another  of  the  boys  now  rushed  upon  Henry,  and  they  fought 
until  their  strength  was  nearly  exhausted.  He  seized  Henry  by 
the  hair,  and  bending  his  head  down,  kicked  him  several  times  in 
the  abdomen.  Dolly  screamed.  "  Foul  play  !"  exclaimed  the  man 
who  had  already  interposed  in  behalf  of  the  persecuted  lad. 

Rallying  his  strength,  Henry  released  himself;  and  grasping  tho 
other  by  the  throat,  bore  him  back,  until,  no  longer  able  to  maintain 
his  feet,  he  fell,  and  his  head  came  violently  in  contact  with  the 
curb  stone.  He  lay  upon  the  ground  still  and  motionless. 

Henry  stood  in  the  street ;  and  with  panting  form,  but  flashing 
eye,  awaited  the  attack  of  the  remaining  boy.  But,  rendered  cau 
tious  by  the  fate  of  his  companions,  he  recoiled  a  step  from  before 
the  glance  of  the  little  hero. 

"  Now's  your  time  for  an  easy  victory,"  said  Hurdy,  patting  him 
on  the  shoulder. 

"  But  he  fights  so." 

"  He's  weak  and  exhausted,  and  you  can  beat  him  easily,"  whis 
pered  Riley. 

"  Oh  don't,  pray  don't  let  them  hurt  brother  any  more.  See,  his 
face  is  all  bloody,"  cried  Dolly. 

"  At  him,  my  little  gentleman,"  said  Hurdy.  "  This  way  ;"  and 
taking  the  boy's  hand  in  his  own,  he  thrust  it  with  such  violence 
against  Henry,  that,  already  weakened  by  the  prolonged  conflict, 
he  fell  heavily  to  the  ground. 

"  You  have  killed  my  poor  brother  Henry — I  know  you  have 
killed  him,"  sobbed  Dolly,  as  she  tried  to  raise  his  bruised  head 
upon  her  lap. 

"  That  was  a  mane  act  of  yourn,  Master  Hurdy,  an',  be  the  holy 
St.  Patrick!  Fll  tell  Robert  Kane." 

"  Will  yez  ?"  replied  Hurdy,  imitating  the  Irish  brogue.  "  Thin, 
by  the  inemy  of  all  the  toads  in  that  same  koontry  of  yourn,  I  don't 
care  if  yez  do  tell  him." 

"  Away  wid  yez,  for  a  bragging  kidnapper,  as  ye  are." 

"  Take  care,  Mr.  Pat,  that  I  don't  kidnap  you." 

"  Ye'll  get  a  broken  pate  first." 

"  May  be  so." 

Mary  Kane,  coming  in  search  of  her  children,  saw  her  boy  lying 
upon  the  pavement,  with  his  face  bruised,  from  which  Dolly  was 
trying  to  wipe  the  blood  away.  A  crowd,  who  had  enjoyed  the 
ipectacle,  were  standing  around  making  their  comments  upon  the 
scene  ;  the  more  humble  portions  of  it  congratulating  themselves 
upon  the  bravery  of  Henry  Kane,  while  those  whose  affinities  were 
with  the  aristocracy  were  saying  that  the  spirit  of  the  lower  clawe* 


40  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

must  be  subdued.  Through  this  assemblage  Mrs.  Kane  forced  her 
way,  and  raising  the  helpless  body  of  her  child,  bore  it  towards  the 
house.  The  motion  roused  him,  and  opening  his  eyes  he  looked 
around  as  if  rallying  his  thoughts.  When  at  last  the  recollection 
of  the  conflict  burst  upon  him,  he  exclaimed,  "My  sister — where  is 
my  sister !" 

"  Here  I  is,"  said  the  troubled  voice. 

The  assurance  satisfied  him,  and  his  head  fell  upon  his  mother's 
bosom. 

"  Oh  !  that  I  should  ever  witness  such  a  spectacle  as  this.  And 
what  will  his  poor  father  say  when  he  sees  this  mangled  face,"  said 
the  agonized  mother. 

"  Don't  cry,  ma,  I  am  not  much  hurt.  I  shall  soon  be  over  it. 
I  would  rather  been  hurt  a  great  deal  more  than  have  them  bad 
boys  frighten  Dolly." 

Sadly  she  ascended  the  stair-case,  and  laid  Henry  upon  the  bed. 
Dolly  pushed  a  chair  to  the  side  of  the  bed,  and  ascending  it  laid 
herself  by  him,  and  placed  her  cheek,  down  which  the  tears  trick 
led,  close  to  his  own. 

Slowly  the  day  wore  along.  Mrs.  Kane  bathed  his  face,  and 
prepared  some  soup  for  the  sufferer,  and  although  he  tried  once  to 
sit  up,  so  as  to  be  well  when  his  father  returned,  a  sudden  dizziness 
forced  him  to  lie  down  again.  It  was  evident  that  when  lie  fell 
last  his  head  was  very  much  injured.  Darkness  now  began  to 
steal  over  the  earth,  and  the  anxious  mother  expected  every  mo 
ment  to  hear  the  welcome  sound  of  Kane's  footsteps  upon  the  stair 
case.  But  time  wore  on.  She  had  never  known  him  to  remain 
out  so  late  before.  The  suppper  was  already  upon  the  table,  ex 
cept  the  tea,  which  was  never  drawn  until  he  entered  the  room. 
His  chair  was  at  the  right  spot ;  the  boot-jack  was  placed  beside 
it,  and  his  slippers  lay  upon  the  hearth-stone. 

"  What  can  have  happened,"  said  the  anxious  wife. 

Henry  raised  his  throbbing  head. 

"  Has  father  come  ?" 

"  Not  yet,"  replied  Mrs.  Kane,  in  a  cheerful  voice. 

"  I  want  to  see  him." 

"  He  will  come  soon,  I  hope." 

"  He  will  be  hungry,"  she  murmured  to  herself,  "  very  hungry  ; 
and  he  cannot  be  much  longer  away.  I  will  draw  the  tea.  Oh, 
no,  he  must  return  immediately,  for  it  is  nine  o'clock." 

And  humming  an  old  song,  as  if  that  would  hasten  his  return, 
she  placed  the  steaming  teapot  upon  the  table. 

"  There,  now,  all  is  ready." 

The  minutes  flew  by.  The  clock  struck  ten  ;  eleven  ;  and  the 
hands  indicated  a  near  approach  to  midnight.  Still  her  husband 
djd  not  return. 

""  Oh,  I  was  certain  misfortunes  would  not  come  singly  ;  what 
can  have  happened  to  poor,  dear  Robert?  If  he  should  be  taken 
from  me.  And  Henry  too  ;  how  his  head  throbs  ;  and  his  pulse 
beats  so  fast,  and  his  mind  wanders,  I  am  sure  it  does,  for  he 
talks  so  wildly.  Hark  !  that  is  Robert." 

Opening  the  door,  she  rapidly  descended  the  stairs,  and  throwing 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  41 

her  arms  around  his  neck  burst  into  tears.     Silently  he  pressed  her 
in  his  arms. 

"  Oh,  Robert !  what  could  have  kept  you  away  so  late  ?" 
"  Is — it — late — dar — ling?"  he  stammered. 
A  terrible  thought  flashed  like  fire  upon  her  brain.     Her  steady 
and  industrious  husband  had  for  the  first  time  returned  intoxicated.   - 

"  And  at  such  a  moment,  too,"  she  said,  as  she  sank  upon  the 
steps. 

"  What's  the — the  matter — Ma — ree — " 

"  Matter?  why  our  boy,  Henry,  is  p-oing  to  die,  but,  alas  !  you 
are  too  drunk  to  comprehend  me.  Come,  go  up  to  your  bed." 

"  Hush  !  not— drunk— no,  not  drunk — Ma— Mary,"  he  muttered, 
as.  he  staggered  into  the  room. 

Mary  anxiously  scrutinized  his  countenance  as  the  light  fell  upon 
it.  His  features  were  hueless,  a  white  foam  was  upon  his  lips, 
and  a  crimson  stream  trickled  down  his  face  from  a  cut  in  his  fore 
head. 

"  Too  true.  Poor  dear  Robert,  how  could  you  so  have  forgotten 
yourself?" 

Reeling  forwards,  he  gazed  for  a  moment  upon  the  flushed  cheeks 
of  his  boy,  and  then  muttering — 

"  Doctor — send—"  he  fell  upon  the  bed. 
Mary  started. 

"  Why  did  I  not  think  of  that  before  ;  yes,  the  Doctor,  I  must 
bring  the  Doctor." 

She  hesitated  as  she  was  closing  the  door.  Could  she  leave 
them  alone  ?  A  drunken  father  and  a  sick  child.  But  there  was 
no  other  recourse,  and  emerging  into  the  open  air  she  proceeded 
rapidly  along  the  street  in  the  direction  of  Dr.  Aldway's  office. 
Fortunately  he  was  at  home.  Explaining  her  wishes,  she-  started 
upon  her  return,  and  had  nearly  reached  the  house  when  she  en 
countered  Matthew  Riley.  His  sinister  face  was  more  than  ordi 
narily  forbidding,  and  a  low  chuckling  laugh  issued  from  his  grin 
ning  mouth,  as  her  progress  was  involuntarily  arrested. 
"  Your  husband  is  out  late  to-night,  Mrs.  Kane  ?" 
"  How  do  you  know  that ?" 

"  Wives  have  to  sit  up  late  when  Dwyville  Hurdy  nabs  their 
mates." 

"  What !  the  leader  of  the  press  gang  ?" 
"  Ye'll  find  it  out,  soon  enough,  pretty  dame." 
"  Tell  me,  monster,  have   the  press  gang  been  after  Robert 
Kane?" 

"Monster,  indeed!  yes,  they  have,  and  it's  a  sore  head  Mr. 
Kane  will  have  the  morrow  on  board  the  king's  ship.  Dwyville 
Hurdy  don't  let  his  stick  fall  upon  the  heads  of  his  victims  for 
nothing." 

"  Dear  Robert,  how  have  I  wronged  you  !"  exclaimed  Mary,  as 
she  sped  onwards. 

Throwing  open  the  door,  she  knelt  by  his  side. 
"  Robert,  Robert,  look  up  ;  forgive  me,  say  that  you  forgive  me, 
only  say  that,  and  I  will  be  happy." 

The  sufferer  breathed  heavily,  but  made  no  response. 
3* 


42  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  He  will  die,  I  am  sure  he  will  die,"  sobbed  Mary,  "  and  I 
wronged  him  so.  Dear  Robert,  wake  up,  only  say  that  you  for 
give  me." 

He  opened  his  eyes,  and  a  thrill  of  anguish  darted  through  her 
frame  as  she  saw  they  were  lead-like. 

Footsteps  were  heard  mounting  the  staircase,  and  the  Doctor 
entered  the  room. 

He  looked  upon  the  form  of  Kane. 

"  What,  honest  Robert  intoxicated  ?"  he  said  in  a  low  voice. 

"  No,  no,  not  that,  I  was  guilty  of  harboring  the  thought.  He 
has  been  in  the  hands  of  the  press-gang." 

"  So,  so,  and  they  inflicted  a  blow  here,  is  it  not  so  T' 

He  parted  the  hair  upon  the  forehead. 

"  Yes,  here  it  is,  and  an  ugly  cut  too.  Don't  cry.  I  trust  it  is 
nothing  serious." 

"  Then  why  don't  he  awaken  from  that  stupor  ?" 

"  The  functions  of  the  brain  are  suspended  by  the  blow.  Bring 
me  a  bowl,  I  must  bleed  him." 

With  that  perfect  reliance  upon  the  doctor,  which  is  so  often 
witnessed,  she  obeyed  his  directions,  and  with  blanched  cheeks 
saw  him  tighten  the  cord  upon  the  arm  ;  but  averted  her  face  as 
the  polished  steel  entered  the  vein.  The  dark  blood  flowed  slowly 
,at  first,  and  then,  as  the  body  began  to  reassurne  its  powers,  the 
crimson  tide  spouted  forth  from  the  stalwart  arm. 

The  sleeper  opened  his  eyes  and  asked  for  water. 

"  I  am  much  better  now,"  he  said. 

Mary  pressed  his  hand  in  silence. 

"  Has  the  Doctor  seen  Henry  T' 

"  What,  another  sick  person  1  why,  this  has  been  a  day  of 
wrongs  !" 

"  Has  Henry  been  abused  too?"  asked  the  father, quickly. 

"  Come,  Mr.  Kane,  you  must  remain  quiet.  He  is  not  danger 
ously  hurt,  and  you  will  both  be  better  to-morrow.  You  must 
keep  them  quiet  during  the  night,  and  I  will  call  early  in  the  morn 
ing." 

The  next  day  Mary  told  her  husband  all  that  had  occurred  during 
his  absence,  and  learned  from  him,  that  returning  home  at  the  usual 
hour,  he  was  attacked  by  the  press-gang,  under  the  leadership  of 
Hurdy.  After  a  desperate  resistance,  during  which  he  was  knocked 
down,  he  was  bound  and  carried  to  the  Thames.  He  managed, 
however,  to  make  his  escape,  and  eluding  his  pursuers,  reached  his 
home — that  castle  in  which  the  most  humble  of  England's  subjects 
are  sovereigns. 

"  But  there  is  no  safety  for  us  here,  Mary,"  he  continued. 

"Where  shall  we  go  I''  she  anxiously  inquired. 

"  Any  where,  rather  than  be  torn  from  you  and  our  little  ones. 
To  leave  you  to  starvation,  perhaps  to  insult,  if  not  dishonor?  The 
thought  is  too  horrible." 

"  But  have  you  no  plan  for  the  future  ?  Have  you  no  idea  in 
what  direction  to  escape  ?" 

"  I  have  thought,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice,  "  we  had  better  seek 
the  friendly  shores  of  America." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  43 

"  And  leave  England  forever  !" 

*'  What  have  we  received  from  England  but  ill  treatment  1" 
"  But  here  we  were  born  ;  here  repose  the  ashes  of  my  father 
and  mother ;  here  lies  buried  the  dead  body  of  our  first  child  ;  and 
here,  too,  are  my  brothers  and  sisters."  She  wept  at  the  thought 
of  a  separation  from  every  tie  that  bound  her  to  the  land  of  her  na 
tivity. 

"  Yes,  but  Mary,  look  upon  the  other  side  of  the  picture  ;  nothing 
but  wrongs  here  ;  a  happy  home  with  no  one  to  make  us  afraid 
in  the  United  States.  One  of  my  cousins  has  been  there  several 
years.  He  has  now  a  farm  of  his  own,  and  he  writes  to  me  that 
they  are  happy  and  contented." 

"Well,  Robert,  I  am  willing  to  do  anything  that  you  think  best," 
replied  Mary,  as  she  wiped  the  tears  from  her  eyes  and  smoothed 
down  her  white  apron. 

"  Thank  you,  dear  Mary,  and  now  you  have  said  that,  I  will 
frankly  tell  you  that  during  the  long  hours  of  the  past  night  I  have 
pondered  upon  the  subject,  and  have  come  to  the  conclusion  to  leave 
England  at  once." 
<k  Indeed,  Robert?" 

"  Yes,  there  is  no  time  for  delay.  We  cannot  tell  how  soon  I 
may  be  again  seized  by  the  press-gang." 

"  Oh,  let  us  go  at  once,  then,"  she  exclaimed  eagerly. 
"  I  have  enough  money  to  pay  for  a  steerage  passage,  and  if  the 
voyage  is  not  too  long,  the  supply  of  provisions  which  I  shall  be 
able  to  buy  will  be  sufficient _£o  prevent  us  from  suffering  much  for 
want  of  food.     When  once  we  get  to  the  United  States  I  can  earn 
enough  to  keep  you  all  comfortable,  and  to  educate  the  children." 
Mary's  face  brightened  at  his  cheering  words. 
"  I  am  willing,  Robert.     We  will  go  as  soon  as  you  please. 
Shall  you  visit  your  brother  and  mother  ?" 

"  I  would  gladly  do  so,  but  the  necessity  of  leaving  England  at 

once   is  too  pressing  to   admit  of  delay what  was  that  ?"  he 

whispered,  proceeding  towards  the  door.  His  cheek  turned  a  shade 
paler  as  he  saw  Riley  moving  stealthily  from  the  door.  "  In  less 
than  a  week  we  must  bid  adieu  to  merry  England,"  he  said  bitterly. 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  Do  I  merit  pangs  like  these, 

That  have  cleft  my  heart  in  twain  ? 

Must  I,  to  the  very  lees, 

Drain  thy  bitter  chalice,  pain?" — MORRIS. 

THERE  was  no  prospect  of  a  harvesting  day.  The  sky  still 
looked  threatening,  and  at  short  intervals  the  rain  fell  copiously. 
Christie  Kane  filled  a  portmanteau  with  provisions,  and,  accom 
panied  by  Phelim  Savor,  started  in  his  gig  for  the  western  part  of 
the  Duke  of  Sunderland's  estate,  situated  six  miles  distant. 

"  Phelim,  what  makes  you  always  so  cheerful  ?"  inquired  Chris 
tie  Kane,  abruptly. 


44  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  Is  it  me,  maister  Christie  ?"J 

t{  Yes.  " 

"  Och  !  plinty  to  ate,  an'  no  care,  I  belave." 

Christie  was  struck  with  the  reply.  He  thought  there  was  phil 
osophy,  in  it. 

"  Plenty  to  eat  and  no  care,"  he  said,  musingly. 

"  But  suppose  you  did  not  have  plenty  to  eat,  Phelim  ?" 

"  By  me  sowl,  but  I  belave  in  that  case  there  would  be  a  fierce 
struggle  betwane  natril  good  humor  and  rebillion." 

"  We  are  going  where,  I  fear,  we  shall  witness  absolute  want." 

"  Thin  there  is  one  matter  of  consolation  to  the  parties  interes 
ted.  They  will  be  the  better  plazed  whin  the  temporary  restriction 
is  removed,  and  the  supply  is  equal  to  the  demand,  as  Sir  William 
Belthoven  said  tother  day  to  the  independent  fraymen." 

"How  is  that?" 

"  You  see,  the  Baronet  was  a  candidate  for  mimber  of  Parlia 
ment,  and  so  he  made  the  fraymen — yez  see  they  call  them  fray- 
men  bekaze  they  fall  upon  others  to  bate  knowledge  into  other's 
heads  wid  shellalaghs — an'  he  towld  thim  that  it  gav  him  uncom 
mon  satisfaction  to  address  voters  so  remarkable  for  their  intilli- 
gence  as  that  same  body  of  men  tul  whom  he  was  at  that  moment 
spaking.  Yez  say,  they  are  called  wery  intilligent  becaze  they 
don't  begrudge  the  use  of  thim  same  shillalaghs.  Whin  they  heard 
sich  gintlemanly  language  from  Sir  William,  all  about  their  own 
wisdom,  and  sich  like,  they  giv  their  hats  a  tirl  and  cheered  untwil 
they  got  red  in  the  face.  When  he  had  done  justice  to  their  mirits, 
he  tould  thim  a  heavy  duty  must  be  laid  on  foreign  importations,  so 
as  to  exclude  them  from  our  markets.  Bad  luck  to  his  strange 
words,  I  didn't  know  what  heavy  duty  meant,  and  so  I  axed  a  stout 
bit  of  a  lad,  who  was  a  very  intilligent  frayman,  for  his  scalp  was 
cut  in  siveral  places.  He  said  I  must  ha'  coomed  from  the  koonty 
Clare,  which  he  towld  me  was  the  greenest  koonty  of  the  Green 
Isle.  '  Not  know  what  heavy  duty  manes,'  he  cried  in  a  voice 
so  loud  that  Sir  William  paused,  and  all  eyes  were  directed  to  me. 

4  Why,  heavy  duty  means  to  attach  something  so  weighty  to 
the  importations  that  they  sink  into  the  depths  of  the  ocean,  and 
don't  land  at  all  at  all.' 

"  The  crowd  chared,  and  Sir  William  smiled,  and  bowed  gra 
ciously,  and  said  : — 

'  A  very  good  explanation,  my  intilligint  frind.' 

"  An'  the  person  who  was  thus  publicly  complimented  looked  as 
wise  as  St.  Pathrick,  afther  the  small  toad  investment,  and  the  fray- 
men  tirled  their  hats  again,  for  they  were  plazed  that  Sir  William 
appraciated  their  intilligence.  Yez  say  people  like  to  hear  nice 
spaches  all  aboot  their  own  good  qualities,  and  especially  their  in- 
tilligence  ;  it  puts  them  in  good  humor  directly,  and  makes  thim 
feel  decidedly  comfortable." 

"  Well,  what  more  did  Sir  William  say  1" 

"  Afther  he  had  done  justice  to  the  frayman  wid  the  cut  head,  he 
towld  us — for  having  obtained  the  valuable  bit  of  information  about 
the  heavy  duty,  I  considered  meself  a  frayman  in  embree — he 
towld  us  that  a  heavy  duty  would  exclude — sink  thim,  mind  ye — 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  46 

foreign  provisions,  and  thin  the  supply  would  be  less  thin  the  de 
mand,  which  would  make  the  price  of  food  very  high.  An'  thin 
the  fraymen  twirled  their  hats  agin,  for  yez  say  they  had  provisions 
to  sell.  At  that  moment  some  unlucky  divil  said, '  that  if  it  was  to 
increase  the  price  of  food,  thin  he  for  one,  was  fernenst  heavy 
duties.'  Ye  ought  to  hiv  been  there  thin.  Och  !  but  didn't  they 
hustle  out  the  '  Paddy  whack?  as  they  called  him.  '  Is  it  the  likes 
of  yez  that'll  ba  afther  expressing  an  opinion  ?  Sure  an'  you  hir 
no  vote,  onyhow,  an'  what  business  is  it  of  yez  whether  provisions 
is  high  or  low.'  Two  or  three  brawny  divils  flourished  their 
shillalaghs  over  me  own  head,  and  axed  me  did  I  endorse  the  trea 
sonable  sentiments  of  me  ignorant  coonthryman.  I  towld  thim  I 
had  inflixible  confidence  in  hivy  duties.  An'  thin  they  said  1  miVht 
hiv  the  binefit  of  Sir  William's  spach.  But  Sir  William  was  de 
termined  to  be  universally  popular,  an'  so  he  towld  thim  to  listen 
to  his  explanation,  which  was  to  the  effect  that  if  provisions  did 
Become  higher,  thim's  as  had  praties  and  whate  to  sell  would  be 
plazed,  arid  thim  as  had  to  buy,  would  hiv  sich  excellent  appetites, 
be  razon  of  the  scarcity,  that  they  would  relish  amazingly  what 
they  did  git  to  ate.  An'  thin  the  fraymen,  an'  the  '  Paddy  whack,' 
an  mesell,  tirled  our  hats.  Some  gintleman,  who  was  sated  fer 
nenst  Sir  William,  on  the  stand,  laughed  an'  towld  him  he  explained 
that  matter  beautifully.  An'  his  benevolent  countenance  was  cov 
ered  wid  smiles  too  :  an'  then  I  exclaimed,  begorra,  nis  honor's  an 
illigant  spaker.  The  gintleman  smiled  agin,  but  the  frayman  wid 
.he  cut  head  thumped  me  in  the  ribs,  and  towld  ine"vnot  to  spake 
agin  untwil  I  was  axed,  an'  so  I — " 

"  This  is  the  house,  Phelim,"  interrupted  Christie  Kane,  and 
they  alighted  from  the  gig. 

Passing  through  a  narrow  wicket  gate,  the  lower  hinge  of  which 
was  broken,  they  approached  the  door  of  a  hut.  It  was  scarcely 
iwelve  feet  square,  and  a  bank  of  dirt  encircled  the  outside  to  the 
height  of  four  or  five  feet.  The  dilapidated  thatch  roof  was  ele 
vated  about  two  feet  above  the  bank,  and,  between  the  two,  was  an 
aperture— it  could  not  be  called  a  window,  because  there  was  no 
glass— for  the  admission  of  light  and  air.  The  entrance  to  the 
hovel  was  reached  by  mounting  three  steps,  and  as  Christie  Kane 
ascended,  he  saw  the  miserable  apology  for  a  cellar  was  tenanted 
by  a  very  weakly  pig.  In  the  corner  of  the  hut  was  a  filthy  straw 
bed  lying  on  the  floor,  upon  which  the  water  was  dripping  from 
the  thatch.  The  room— for  there  was  but  one— was  entirely  desti 
tute  of  furniture,  save  one  chair  with  three  legs. 

With  folded  arms  Christie  Kane  contemplated  the  objects  of 
destitution  around  him.  Upon  the  straw  bed  was  the  skeleton 
form  of  a  little  girl,  some  eight  years  of  age,  whose  wan  cheeks 
and  sunken  eyes,  betrayed  the  effects  of  hunger  and  disease.  Her 
lips  were  dry  and  cracked,  the  eyes  were  bright  and  restless,  and 
the  body  emaciated  to  such  a  degree,  that  the  bones  protruded 
from  the  skin. 

u  Be  me  sowl,  but  this  is  too  bad,  intirely,"  said  Phelim,  in  a  low 
voice,  while  big  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks. 

The  wistful  glance  of  the  tortured  child  rested  upon   the  port- 


46  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

manteau,  while  her  fleshless  fingers  played   convulsively  with  the 
ragged  bed-clothes. 

"  Ye  needn't  be  coming  after  the  rent,  for  it's  nothing  you  can 
get  but  the  pig  below,  and  ye'll  have  to  carry  him  away,  for  he 
can't  walk,"  said  the  mother,  in  a  cracked  voice.  It  was  evident 
her  sensibilities  were  deadened  by  suffering. 

"  You  mistake  the  object  of  our  visit,  good  woman,"  said  Christie. 
"  Although  poor  ourselves,  we  come  to  commiserate,  if  we  cannot 
relieve." 

"Well,  it's  all  the  same  to  us  now.  Little  Mary  can't  live  long," 
replied  the  wToman,  with  a  look  of  hopeless  despondency. 

"  Do  not  say  that,"  exclaimed  the  young  man.  "  She  cannot, 
she  must  not  starve  to  death,  in  a  country  which  boasts  of  its 
wealth,  power,  and  philanthropy.  It  would  be  too  horrible." 

"  I  tell  you  it  is  too  late,"  said  the  female,  sternly.    "  Not  all 
the  wealth  of  the  avaricious  Duke  of  Sunderland  could  now  pre 
serve  the  life  of  that  victim." 
"  Hush,  you  will  alarm  her." 

"Not  at  all,  she  is  as  willing  to  die  as  I  am  to  part  with  her. 
Her  form  is  too  weak  to  suffer  any  more." 

"  My  God  !  I  cannot  endure  this  !"  burst  from  the  lips  of  Kane. 
"  Then  you  are  more  tender  hearted  than  our  landlord." 
"  Does  the   Duke   know  of  your  condition  V  eagerly  inquired 
Christie. 

"Of  course.     Lord  Melville,  his  son,  came  here  with  the  stew 
ard  yesterday,  accompanied  by  a  distress  officer,  but  it's  very  little 
they  found  to  seize,  except  the  pig,  and  he  couldn't  stand." 
"  But  surely  Lord  Melville  relieved  your  wants." 
"  Hoot !  you  must  have  lost  your  senses.     He  told   the   officer 
to  turn  us  out  of  the  hut.     But  the  steward,  as   unfeeling  as   he  is 
was  shocked  at  the  proposition,  and   so  they  left  Mary  to   die  in 
peace." 

"  May  the  divil  get  the  unfaling  spalpeen,"  cried  Phelim,  whose 
good  nature  was  not  proof  against  such  atrocities. 

"  Mother,"  said  the  child,  faintly  ;  and  she  pointed  to  the  port 
manteau. 

"  The  darlint  little  crater  shall  hiv  something  to  ate  amadately," 
said  Phelim,  as  he  hastily  opened  the  leather-bag. 

She  turned  her  eyes  away  with  an  expression  of  utter  hopeless 
ness,  as  she  felt  that  the  nourishment,  which  a  few  days  before  would 
have  been  so  eagerly  seized,  the  stomach  now  loathed.  Her  glance 
fell  again,  but  mechanically,  upon  the  portmanteau,  and  then  she 
whispered,  "  Mother,"  with  more  earnestness,  for  she  saw  a  bowl 
of  fresh  and  delicious  blackberries. 

"  Ah  !  that  may  prove  a  welcome  present,"  said  the  woman,  more 
gently. 

The  little,  wan  face  seemed  to  brighten  as  her  look  followed  the 
movements  of  her  mother  while  she  pressed  the  juice  from  the  ber 
ries,  mixed  it  with  water,  and  sweetened  it.  An  expression,  almost 
of  happiness,  overspread  her  pale  and  attenuated  features,  as  the 
female  raised  her  head  and  applied  the  grateful  beverage  to  her 
parched  lips.  But  as  she  swallowed  one  draught,  she  coughed  vio- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  41 

lently,  the  lower  jaw  dropped,  the  eyes  closed,  the  pallor  of  the 
countenance  deepened,  the  rattle  was  heard  in  her  throat— she  was 

Loud  laughter  was  heard  in  the  highway.  Christie  turned  to  the 
door  with  a°frowning  brow,  as  if  he  would  rebuke  unseemly  merri 
ment.  It  was  a  party  of  equestrians  convoyed  byLord  Melville. 

Their  laughter  mingled  with  the  sob  of  the  mother,  and  the  last 
moan  of  the  dying  child. 

"  Proud  and  boastful  government,  unequal  and  tyrannical  laws, 
exacting  and  unfeeling  aristocracy,  may  the  trenchant  blade  of  truth 
lance  thy  canting  hypocrisy,  and  expose  thy  unblushing  wrongs  !" 
said  Christie  Kane,  as  his  eyes  followed  the  receding  horsemen. 

Heart-broken  sobs  burst  from  the  bosom  of  the  mother.  It  was 
evident,  notwithstanding  the  willingness  she  had  manifested  to  hate 
her  child  relieved  from  suffering,  that  now  the  link  was  severed 
which  bound  her  to  her  offspring,  the  uneffaceable  strength  of  a 
mother's  love  would  reassume  its  dominion  over  her  feelings.  She 
laid  her  down  upon  the  homely  bed,  and  adjusted  her  body  and 
limbs  with  a  tenderness  which  the  living  form  could  have  felt  with 
out  pain;  and  then,  falling  upon  her  knees,  with  the  hand  of  the 
dead  clasped  within  her  own,  she  wept  long  and  violently. 

Christie  waited  until  the  first  outburst  of  grief  had  subsided,  and 
then  he  uttered  the  words  of  consolation. 

"  Oh  !  if  you  only  knew,"  said  the  wretched  mother,  wiping  the 
scalding  tears  from  her  cheeks,  "  how  her  poor  father  and  I  almost 
worshipped  her  when  she  was  an  infant— what  happy  hours  we 
passed  watching  over  her  cradle,  for  we  were  then  well  off.  How 
often  he  came  during  the  day  to  look  at  her,  for  he  said  he  was 
afraid  to  touch  her  with  his  big  hands.  And  then  when  she  grew 
to  be  a  little  toddling  girl,  and  could  run  about  the  room,  with  what 
gentleness  he  raised  her  to  his  knees,  and  how  patiently  he  taught 
her  to  lisp  her  first  words.  I  am  sure  when  he  comes  home — if 
he  ever  does  come — and  finds  she  is  dead,  it  will  break  his  heart ; 
I  am  sure  it  will,"  and  the  poor  creature  cried  as  though  her  own 
heart  was  breaking. 

"  Where  is  your  husband  ?  Why  is  he  not  here  to  aid  you  in 
the  hour  of  affliction?" 

"  Alas  !  sir,  he  cannot  return.  Three  years  ago  we  were  hap 
py.  We  had  a  small  house  in  London,  and  my  husband,  by  his  in 
dustry,  obtained  a  comfortable  living.  One  evening  he  did  not  re 
turn  at  the  hour  when  I  always  expected  him.  The  minutes  flew 
by.  Mary  cried,  for  her  father  always  petted  her  before  she  was 
placed  in  her  little  bed.  Midnight,  morning  came,  still  he  was  ab 
sent  ;  I  had  not  closed  my  eyes  during  the  long  hours  of  darkness. 
I  started  forth  in  search  of  him,  but  when  I  reached  the  next  street, 
I  met  an  acquaintance.  He  was  terribly  cut  about  the  head.  The 
truth  at  once  flashed  like  fire  through  my  brain.  My  husband  had 
been  seized  by  a  press-gang  !  The  wounded  man  informed  me 
that  as  my  husband  and  himself  were  returning  home,  having  been 
unavoidably  detained  until  after  dark,  they  were  beset  by  a  press 
again.  They  resisted  stoutly;  but  my  husband's  right  arm  was 
broken,  and  then  he  was  knocked  down.  In  piteous  accents  he 


•**  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

implored  them  to  release  him.  He  told  them  he  had  an  unprotected 
wile  and  a  helpless  child  at  home,  who  would  be  reduced  to  beg 
gary,  perhaps  to  starvation,  if  he  was  forced  away.  They  replied 
with  derisive  laughter,  and  told  him  that  his  wife  would  console 
herself  with  another  lover,  and  his  child  would  find  another  pro 
tector.  On  his  knees  he  supplicated  ;  but  they  answered  him  with 
scoffs.  At  last  he  implored  them  only  to  suffer  him  to  bid  his  wife 
and  child  a  last  farewell.  Enraged  at  his  pertinacity,  one  of  them 
dealt  him  a  heavy  blow  upon  the  head,  and  he  was  borne  insensible 
on  board  ship.  The  other  sought  an  opportunity,  when  the  atten 
tion  of  the  gang  was  directed  elsewhere,  and  by  a  powerful  effort 
made  his  escape.  But  my  poor  husband  was  less  fortunate,  for  I 
have  never  seen  him  since." 

"Have  you  never  heard  from  him'?"  inquired  Christie,  deeply 
affected  by  the  tale  of  woe. 

"  Only^once.     He  was  then  attached  to  one  of  her  Majesty's 
regiments  in  the  East." 

"  An  unwilling  victim,  pouring  out  his  blood  as  an  offering  to 
the  Moloch  of  insatiate  ambition  !" 

"  We  remained  in  London  until  we  were  reduced  to  beggary,  in 
the  hope  he  would  return  ;  for  I  looked  forward  to  that  event,  oh 
so  anxiously.  Then  I  saw  the  cheeks  of  my  darling — his  darling, 
Mary,  becoming  pale  and  thin,  and  we  left  London  ;  and  hearing 
there  was  employment  here,  we  came  down  to  the  Duke  of  Sunder- 
land's  estate.  Bitterly  have  I  repented  the  step.  For  eighteen 
months  we  have  existed  in  this  hut.  My  exertions  alone  could  not 
keep  us  from  want ;  and  Mary,  at  the  lender  age  of  seven  years, 
began  to  turn  the  wheel.  I  tried  to  have  her  task  lightened ;  but 
they  required  her  to  work  from  five  in  the  morning  until  nine  at 
night,  sixteen  hours,  or  else  to  give  up  the  situation.  I  told  them 
it  would  kill  her.  They  answered  it  was  not  their  fault ;  they 
could  not  change  their  regulations  ;  the  precedent  would  be  a  bad 
one.  The  dear  child  saw  that  labor  and  anxiety  had  enfeebled  my 
frame,  and  with  the  most  touching  devotion  she  insisted  upon  per 
forming  her  daily  work,  until  over-exertion  in  the  performance  of 
labor  too  great  for  her  strength,  brought  on  an  attack  of  sickness. 
I  could  not  leave  her  side  ;  and  then  commenced  that  pinching 
want,  which  gradually  increased  to  starvation.  Aye,  to  starva 
tion  !  Do  you  know  what  that  means  1"  she  inquired,  with  a  look 
of  wildness.  "  Starvation  !  that  yearning  for  food  until  you  feel 
that  your  frame  is  in  the  grasp  of  dissolution — that  horrible  torture 
of  the  nerves  and  fibres,  the  bones  and  sinews  of  the  body,  as 
though  about  to  be  severed  by  mortal  agony  !  It  is  too,  too  fright 
ful  for  contemplation." 

The  poor  creature  started  to  her  feet,  and  staggered  wildly  around 
the  room. 

At  length  she  became  more  calm,  and  seating  herself  by  the 
wretched  pallet,  gazed  upon  the  wan  features  of  the  dead. 

"  It  is  better  that  she  is  relieved  from  suffering.  Her  whole  life 
would  have  been  one  of  toil  and  hardship.  Yes,  yes,  I  am  glad 
she  is  dead  !— glad  she  is  dead  !  But  what  will  her  father  say  ? 
Oh,  the  thought  is  horrible  !" 


. 

AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  49 

And  again  the  foundations  of  her  grief  were  broken  up,  and  the 
tears  streamed  down  her  cheeks,  while  her  hody  moved  backward 
and  forward  in  the  intensity  of  woe. 

Christie  Kane  saw  that  consolation  could  avail  nothing,  and 
promising  to  make  arrangements  for  the  burial  of  the  child,  left 
some  food,  and  emerged  from  the  hut. 

As  he  entered  the  gig  he  saw  Lady  Katharine  Montague  seated 
upon  a  horse,  some  twenty  rods  down  the  road.  She  appeared  to 
be  looking  for  some  person,  and  beckoned  to  Christie,  as  soon  as 
her  eyes  rested  upon  him.  Without  regarding  the  signal,  he 
wheeled  his  horse  in  the  opposite  direction. 

"  See,  yon  lady  wants  yez,"  observed  Phelim. 

"  I  care  not  if  she  does.     If  I  am  poor,  I  am  not  a  lacquey.". 

"  Ah  !  but  maister  Christie,  she  may  be  in  danger." 

On  the  instant  the  horse  was  turned,  and  they  rapidly  approached 
the  lady.  Phelim  sprang  to  the  ground,  and  touching  his  hat, 
placed  his  hand  upon  the  rein  of  her  horse,  while  young  Kane  sat 
erect  in  the  gig.  She  tossed  a  small  portmanteau,  which  hung 
upon  the  frame  of  her  saddle,  to  Phe|im,  and  then  sprang  lightly 
to  the  earth. 

"  Thank  you,  my  good  man.  Take  charge  of  these  horses  un 
til  my  return.  Here,"  she  continued,  turning  to  Christie,  "  take 
the  portmanteau,  if  you  please,  and  come  with  me." 

The  hot  blood  mantled  the  cheek  of  Christie  as  he  replied 
quickly, 

"  I  am  neither  your  father's  tenant  nor  the  footman  of  your  lady 
ship." 

She  gazed  at  him  a  moment  with  a  look  of  surprise,  and  then  a 
^glance  of  approval  flashed  across  her  features. 

"  Tie  the  bridle  of  my  horse  to  the  fence,"  she  said,  addressing 
Phelim.  "  If  your  master,  if  such  he  be,  is  too  proud  to  aid  me  in 
a  mission  of  charity,  he  will  not  be  so  ungenerous  as  to  refuse  me 
your  aid." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  for  misjudging  your  intentions.  Here,  Phe 
lim,  take  charge  of  both  horses.  Your  ladyship  may  command  my 
services." 

"  Then  take  up  the  portmanteau." 

Passing  over  the  stile  she  entered  the  narrow  path.  Raising  the 
folds  of  her  apparel,  so  as  to  prevent  the  rich  and  spotless  material 
from  coming  in  contact  with  the  grass  and  weeds  which  surrounded 
the  way,  she  disclosed  the  exquisitely  shaped  limbs  where  they 
tapered  into  the  well  booted,  small  Norman  feet.  Sinner  as  he  was, 
Christie  Kane  could  not  withdraw  his  gaze  from  those  little  feet, 
as  they  quickly  but  noiselessly  touched  the  ground,  as  she  rapidly 
proceeded,  only  pausing  to  gather  up  her  clothes  as  the  obstructions 
of  the  pathway  loosened  them  in  her  grasp.  The  lady  was  ex 
tremely  modest,  only  her  companion  was  far  below  her  in  rank,  and 
her  thoughts  dwelt  upon  her  mission. 

Passing  through  a  portion  of  the  Duke  of  Sunderland's  park, 
they  emerged  into  a  small  country  thoroughfare,  upon  the  wayside 
of  which  several  small  huts  were  situated.  Grateful  voices  wel 
comed  Katharine  Montague  ;  children  ran  out  from  each  of  the 


50  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

houses  to  kiss  her  hand,  while  some  of  them  pressed  their  lips  .to 
her  dress.  Several  aged  persons  clasped  their  hands,  while  tears 
of  joy  coursed  down  their  furrowed  cheeks.  Even  some  emacia 
ted  dogs  staggered  forward,  wagging  their  tails,  and  whining,  to 
express  their  pleasure  at  the  approach  of  the  maiden. 

"  Will  you  open  the  portmanteau  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  responded  Christie. 

From  its  ample  store  each  person  was  supplied,  and  even  the 
curs  were  not  forgotten.  She  now  beckoned  Christie  to  follow  her. 
They  entered  the  most  wretched  of  the  hovels.  There  were  two 
rooms  upon  the  ground  floor,  if,  indeed,  that  could  be  called  a  floor 
which  was  only  misshapen  boards  with  wide  crevices  between 
them,  made  by  the  touch  of  time.  The  rude  door  was  opened,  and 
Katharine  Montague  entered  the  first  room. 

"  Many,  many  thanks  to  your  ladyship/'  said  the  weak  voice  of 
a  female.  "  I  am  grateful  to  you  for  your  kindness  ;  indeed  I  am." 

"  You  are  better?" 

"  I  feel  like  a  different  person  since  I  eat  the  food  you  brought 
me." 

"  Very  well  ;  here  is  something  still  more  nourishing.  How  is 
the  occupant  of  the  next  room  ?" 

"  He  was  able  to  go  out  in  search  of  work,  though  I  fear  it's 
little  he'll  get  for  it.  But  there  is  a  still -more  distressed  object 
down  yonder." 

"  What !  in  the  cellar  ?" 

"  Yes,  ma'am.  He  rented  the  apartment  yesterday,  and  to-day 
he  has  a  raging  fever." 

"  The  apartment !"  muttered  Kane,  bitterly. 

"  We  will  descend  ;  give  me  a  light." 

The  woman  obeyed,  and  delivered  the  candlestick  into  the  hand 
of  the  maiden. 

They  descended  the  damp  and  mouldy  stairway,  which  possessed 
scarcely  sufficient  strength  to  support  their  weight.  The  cellar 
was  dimly  lighted  by  an  open  space  beneath  the  sill  of  the  house, 
but  it  was  too  indistinct  to  enable  the  visitors  to  discover  the 
dweller  of  the  miserable  abode  of  wretchedness,  without  the  aid  of 
the  candle.  Their  attention  was  attracted  to  the  corner  of  the 
cellar  by  the  quick,  short  breathing,  and  restless  motions  of  the  sick 
man.  He  had  rolled  from  his  rotten  bed  of  straw,  and  lay  upon 
the  cold,  damp  earth.  His  feet  were  in  a  pool  of  stagnant  water, 
upon  whose  slimy  surface  there  was  a  dark  green  coating.  His 
head  rested  by  another  festering  and  loathsome  pool,  from  the  bor 
der  of  which  several  toads  leaped  sluggishly  away  as  Katharine 
Montague  and  Christie  Kane  approached.  In  his  delirium,  the 
sufferer  quenched  his  raging  thirst  in  this  fetid  and  putrid  mass. 

The  cheek  of  the  lady  grew  pale,  her  head  swam  round,  and  she 
would  have  fallen  had  not  Christie  sprang  forward  to  her  assist 
ance.  In  a  moment  she  rallied,  and  passing  her  hand  across  her 
brow  as  if  to  dispel  an  unpleasant  dream,  when  her  sight  again 
rested  upon  t\ie  stern  and  terrible  reality. 

"  Such  are  the  fruits  of  an  accursed  system,"  said  Christie 
Kane,  as  he  raised  the  form  of  the  unconscious  man  and  placed 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  51 

him  upon  the  miserable  pallet.  His  eyes  met  the  glance  of  the 
maiden.  Perhaps,  as  one  of  the  class  who  exist  upon  corporal  and 
mental  agony,  she  felt  herself  justly  accused,  for  her  eyes  fell. 

Kane  turned  moodily  away. 

The  mind  of  the  sick  man  wandered.  He  spoke  at  first  mut- 
teringly,  and  then  his  fevered  thoughts  became  more  connected. 

"  Ah  !  that's'it,"  he  said.  "  The  vast  mass  ;  the  physical  power 
of  this  empire  are  no  longer  to  be  crushed  into  the  earth.  They 
are  going  to  do  us  justice  !  yes,  sir,  they  have  found  out  that  we 
can  suffer.  Thank  God,  for  teaching  them  that  we  are  human 
beings,  as  well  as  themselves.  And  now  they  are  enlightened 
upon  this  important  subject,  they  voluntarily  right  our  wrongs. 
Ain't  they  generous?" 

He  muttered  •  incoherently  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  he  ex 
claimed,  vehemently — 

"  I  tell  you,  I  am  not  mistaken.  I  have  reflected  too  long,  suf 
fered  too  long,  to  be  mistaken.  Can  you  not  see  for  yourself? 
Look  yonder !  The  magnificent  hunting  grounds  attached  to  the 
domain  of  Sunderland  are  now  fields  of  waving  grain.  No  not  all, 
for  he  has  been  suffered  to  retain — let  me  see — ten  acres  for  a 
park.  But  "the  remainder,  instead  of  feeding  worthless  deer,  and 
affording  cruel  sport  to  hunter,  horse,  and  hound,  will  now  feed 
those  who  are  starving.  So  courage,  friends — courage,  brave 
friends  ;  our  sufferings  will  soon  be  over.  They  are,  indeed,  ter 
rible  ;  oh,  almost  too  terrible  for  human  endurance." 

The  sick  man  pressed  his  hand  upon  his  side,  and  then  in  the 
delirium  of  his  fever  inflicted  a  heavy  blow  upon  his  forehead. 

"  They  cannot  last.  See,  the  grain  assuming  a  golden  hue, 
waves  in  the  breeze  as  I  loved  to  see  it  in  infancy.  How  deli 
riously  it  smells.  Let  me  see  :  That  field  of  grain  will  be 
ready  for  the  sickle  in  one  week.  In  one  day  more  it  can  be  cut 
down  ;  then  it  will  take  one  day — will  one  day  be  enough  ? — yes, 
if  it  is  a  fair  day,  it  will  be  dry  enough  to  thresh.  But  suppose  ifr 
should  rain?  Ha!  ha!  that  would  be  delightful;  delightful  to 
persons  starving.  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  how  merry  it  would  make  them. 
Ho  !  ho  !  ho  !  By  the  gods,  it's  too  funny."  The  dreary  abode 
rang  with  maniacal  laughter,  but  suddenly  assuming  a  serious  look, 
he  continued — 

"  There  would  even  then  be  one  cause  for  congratulation,  we 
should  have  water,  yes  water.  The  earth  would  no  longer  be 
parched  with  thirst,  I  could  then  wet  my  fevered  lips.  Thank 
Heaven  !  There  is  a  cloud  even  now.  See,  it  grows  darker  and 
darker  ;  but  Father  of  Mercy  !  can  it  withstand,  much  more  over 
spread,  that  painfully  lurid  and  scorching  sky  ?  It  pales  before  the 
interfse  heat,  it  will  be  consumed.  No  !  no  !  by  heaven,  no.  •  It 
struggles  bravely.  Noble,  gallant  cloud,  move  on  !  Now  it  spreads 
out  its  dark  wings  like  an  army  with  banners.  Hark  !  listen  to  the 
roar  of  cannon  ;  the  rattle  of  muskets  ;  the  neighing  of  steeds.  Let 
me  buckle  on  my  sword  and  once  more  join  my  regiment.  Alas  ! 
I  am  too  weak.  But  I  can  witness  the  conflict.  Now  they  are 
moving  hitherward.  Take  care  ;  the  enemy  is  crowding  his  legions 
upon  your  left  wing.  Fool,  fool  !  reinforce  it,  or  he  will  cut  you 


52  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

off  in  detail.     Ah,  that  was  well  done.     Glorious !  Now  follow  it 

up  with  another  charge.     How  the  cannons  roar  !     It  is  music 

sweet  music.  Blood  is  poured  out  like  rain  ;  see,  the  earth  is 
saturated  with  its  crimson  tide.  It  forms  a  rivulet.  If  it  would 
only  flow  this  way  I  could  quench  my  raging  thirst.  It  does !  it 
does  !  Nearer,  nearer,  here  it  is.  Thank  God  !" 

He  crawled  eagerly  in  the  direction  of  the  putrid  water.  As 
Christie  Kane  arrested  his  movements,  he  struggled  fiercely,  but 
soon,  overcome  with  exhaustion,  sunk  upon  the  ground.  A  sob 
burst  from  the  aching  bosom  of  Katharine  Montague. 

She  pointed  to  the  portmanteau.  Kane  eagerly  searched  its  am 
ple  folds,  and  drew  forth  a  bottle  of  cordial.  Raising  the  head  of 
the  sick  man  he  applied  the  grateful  beverage  to  his  lips.  With  a 
convulsive  start  he  pressed  it  for  a  long  time  to  his  mouth,  and 
then  sunk  back,  while  a  calm  smile  played  upon  his  fevered  coun 
tenance. 

The  man  has  seen  better  days,  but  poverty  is  a  remorseless 
leveller,"  said  Christie  Kane  in  a  low  voice. 

The  feelings  of  the  spirited  girl  were  subdued  in  the  presence  of 
such  horrors. 

"What  shall  we  do  for  this  poor  fellow?"  she  inquired. 

Young  Kane's  heart  thrilled  as  her  melting  eyes  rested  upon 
him. 

"  He  must  be  removed  from  this  loathsome  spot,  and  receive 
medical  assistance." 

"les,  and  at  once,"  she  responded  energetically. 

Giving  directions  to  the  occupant  of  the  room  above  to  watch 
over  the  sufferer,  she  retraced  her  steps  to  the  place  where  she 
had  left  her  horse  in  the  charge  of  Phelim.  Suddenly  halting  in 
her  progress,  she  confronted  Christie  Kane  with  the  bearing  of  an 

fl  *"»*"»nc£»v» 


accuser. 


You  scan  with  a  sharpened  vision,  each  fault  of  the  aristocra- 
%cy  ;  what  excuse  can  you  offer  for  the  brutal  conduct  of  those  peo 
ple  who  permitted  a  human  being  to  toss  upon  the  damp  earth 
without  an  attempt  to  alleviate  his  sufferings .?" 

"  Their  exculpation  is  found  in  the  fact  that  their  sensibilities 
have  been  brutalized  by  the  aristocracy.  Brutalized,  because  it 
was  necessary  to  gratify  their  inordinate  vanity,"  replied  Kane,  with 
an  unflinching  gaze. 

Katharine  Montague  pondered  upon  the  reply  a  few  moments, 
and  then  she  resumed  her  walk.  Arriving  at  the  stile,  she  moun 
ted  her  horse,  and  bestowing  some  pieces  of  silver  upon  Phelim, 
galloped  rapidly  away,  without  recognizing  the  existence,  even,  of 
her  late  companion. 

Christie  Kane  gazed  after  her,  until  her  form  was  concealed  by 
the  foliage  of  the  wood. 

"  Be  me  sowl,  she  is  a  beautiful  and  ginerous  lady,  thot  same, 
and  long  life  tul  her,"  exclaimed  Phelim,  as  his  eyes  wandered 
from  her  receding  form,  to  the  silver,  before  he  consigned  the  latter 
to  his  pocket.  "  It's  well  there  is  two,  to  keep  each  other  company, 
for  its  few  of  the  likes  of  yez  that  iver  pay  a  visit  to  the  pockets 
of  Phalim  Savor,  onyhow.  An'  ye  needn't  ba  afeerd  of  mating 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  oS 

wid  an  inimy  of  another  color.  Begorra,  the  Pace  Society  might 
rist  from  their  labors  if  foes  were  as  scarce  outer  dooers  as  these 
bits  of  siller  in  the  breeches  pockets  of  Mr.  Savor.  Fur  the-mat- 
ter  o'  that,  I  might  as  well  have  no  pockets  at  all  at  all,  ony  its 
better  to  ba  afther  leaping  up  apparances,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  ; 
though  if  there  was  as  little  rayson  fur  thim  same  apparances,  in 
gineral,  as  there  is  fur  mesell  hiring  pockets,  the  world  is  beauti 
fully  humbugged,  onyhow,  don't  yez  think  so,  Maister  Christie  ?" 

But  Kane  suffered  the  observations  of  Mr.  Savor  to  pass  un 
heeded,  and  bidding  him  enter  the  gig,  proceeded  homewards, 
muttering,  sotlovoce,  "She  is  a  haughty  maiden,  but  she  may  find 
me  as  proud  as  herself." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"  Will  no  man  throttle  him,  once  for  all  ?" — SCHILLER. 

"  WHAT  kind  of  a  country  is  America,  ma  ?"  inquired  Henry 
Kane,  when  he  had  sufficiently  recovered  to  be  apprised  of  the  con 
templated  emigration  to  the  United  States. 

"  The  people  are  the  sovereigns  there." 

"  Is  there  no  king  T' 

"None." 

"  Nor  nobility  ?" 

"  No." 

"  Well,  who  abuses  poor  people  there  ?" 

"  No  one,  Henry." 

"  Then  I  shall  like  America,"  he  said,  quietly.  "  But  ma,  who 
governs  the  people,  for  they  must  have  rulers  ?" 

"They  chose  their  own  public  servants,  as  they  call  them." 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?" 

"Persons  to  make  laws  for  them." 

"  Just  as  they  wish  them  ?" 

"Yes." 

"And  will  the  press-gang  ever  seize  father?" 

"  They  have  no  press-gangs  in  the  United  States." 

"  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  happy  there.  Why  don't  all  the  poor 
people  go  to  America  ?  If  they  did,  the  nobility  would  have  to  wait 
upon  themselves,  and  I  think  they  wouldn't  like  that." 

"  They  are  emigrating  by  thousands,  and  more  would  doubtless 
go  if  they  were  not  so  poor,  or  if  they  were  not  so  lamentably  un 
educated  as  to  be  ignorant  of  the  advantages  which  a  more  favored 
country  possesses." 

"  Does  the  English  Government  try  to  keep  them  in  ignorance  ?" 

"  The  government  plays  what  is  called  a  shrewd  game.  It  mana 
ges  to  let  oat  as  many  of  our  criminals  as  possible,  and  also  the 
very  poor  from  the  impoverished  districts,  while  it  practises  the 
most  ingenious  methods  to  retain  the  hardy  and  serviceable." 

"That  is  cunning  of  John  Bull,  ain't  it  ma?  But  when  shall  we 
start;  I  am  so  anxious  to  go." 


54  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

*'  We  shall  know  when  your  father  returns ;  and  here  he  is  ; 
come  in,  Robert,  what  success  had  you  ?" 

His  cheerful  countenance  bore  evidence  of  flattering  hopes. 

"  Phil  Hogan  says  I  shall  have  my  money  to-morrow." 

"  But  can  you  rely  upon  his  word  ?" 

"  He  has  never  failed  me  yet." 

"  If  he  pays  you,  father,  when  can  we  leave  this  hateful  place  !" 
asked  Henry. 

"  The  day  after." 

"  Oh,  I  shall  be  so  happy,"  and  he  clapped  his  hands  with  joy. 

With  smiling  faces,  they  commenced  packing  their  little  store 
in  a  substantial  wooden  box  purchased  by  Kane  ;  even  little  Dolly 
contributing  her  feeble  aid,  with  troublesome  zeal. 

The  next  day  Robert  started  for  the  money  that  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  ensure  the  success  of  his  plans.  As  he  reached  the 
hut,  he  saw  Hurdy  and  Riley  in  conversation.  They  both  regarded 
him  with  malicious  eyes,  and  for  a  moment  the  strong  man  faltered 
beneath  their  glance.  His  agitation  elicited  a  coarse  laugh  from 
the  kidnapper. 

Kane  approached  them. 

"  Have  1  injured  you  in  any  way,  Mr.  Hurdy  T'  he  asked  in  a 
steady  voice. 

"  I  won't  tell  you." 

"  Why  do  you  persecute  me  ?  Have  you  no  compassion  for  the 
humble1?  You  ought,  for  you  belong  to  that  class  yourself." 

"Aye,  but  I  am  not  so  humble  as  to  work,  Mr.  Kane.  I  can 
live  without  that.  He  !  he  !" 

"  Because  you  live  by  means  that  none  but  a  scoundrel  would 
resort  to,"  exclaimed  Kane  passionately. 

"  Very  well ;  very  well.  You  only  strengthen  a  determination 
I  had  already  formed,  Mr.  Kane  ;  so  be  on  your  guard,  Mr.  Kane." 

"  Miscreant,  you  will  find  me  prepared.  It  will  be  more  than 
your  carcass  is  worth  to  attack  me  again." 

"  We  shall  see  ;  he  !  he  !  he  !     We  shall  see." 

With  frowning  brows  Robert  strode  onwards,  inwardly  resolving 
to  inflict  a  terrible  chastisement  upon  Hurdy  if  he  molested  him 
again.  Arriving  at  the  house  of  Hogan,  he  was  excessively  dis 
appointed  to  learn  that  the  money  he  expected  to  receive  could  not 
be  paid  for  several  days.  This  was  the  more  vexatious  because 
every  hour's  delay  periled  his  liberty.  It  was,  therefore,  with  a 
sad  heart  that  he  returned  to  his  wife. 

With  that  hope  which  is  so  firmly  implanted  in  the  female  mind 
she  attempted  to  reassure  him.  ^ 

"  God  will  not  desert  us,  Robert ;  I  know  he  will  not.  We  have 
injured  no  one,  and  we  are  only  trying  to  escape  from  oppression  ; 
be  assured,  then,  all  will  be  right,  yet.  You  incur  no  danger  in 
the  house,  and  they  will  not  attempt  to  seize  you  in  the  day  time. 
So  we  must  wait  patiently." 

"  But  our  limited  means,  Mary.  We  shall  require  them  all  to 
take  us  across  the  Atlantic.  I  would  continue  my  employment,  but 
it  is  so  late  when  we  are  dismissed  that  it  is  dark  before  I  can  reach 
home."  , 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  56 

"  Then  do  not  attempt  it.  It  is  better  to  suffer  a  little  for  the 
want  of  food  than  to  lose  a  home  where  you  will  indeed  enjoy 
freedom." 

Slowly  the  days  rolled  away  to  this  anxious  family,  but  at  last 
Robert  returned  with  the  much  coveted  money — that  pitiful  amount 
of  dross,  upon  which  was  staked  the  happiness  of  five  human  be 
ings.  Rarely  do  those  who  are  accustomed  to  the  immunities  of 
wealth  think  how  much  of  joy  or  woe  is  periled  for  the  want  of 
what,  to  them,  is  the  merest  trifle.  The  importance  of  money  is 
measured  by  necessity,  and  when  that  necessity  is  pressing  in  its 
demands,  at  what  point  will  honesty  wage  an  unequal  conflict  with 
crime  1  Let  him  who  has  been  put  to  the  test  answer  ;  none  other 
can. 

The  final  preparations  had  been  made,  and  Robert  Kane  and  his 
family  were  seated  at  their  last  supper  in  the  city  of  London.    Now 
the  time  for  departure  had  arrived,  all  the  recollections  of  the  past 
crowded   upon  them.     Memory,  with  a  gentle  hand,  softened  the 
hardships  through  which   they  had  struggled,  and   gilded  with  a 
bright  radiance  the  joys  that  had  checkered  their  career.     A  sub 
tle  negotiator  is  memory,  when  it  seeks  to  elevate  the  realities  of 
the  past  above  the  dread  uncertainties  of  the  future  ;  for  it  presents 
the  beautiful  outlines  of  an  existence  that  is  seldom  entirely  desti 
tute  of  green  spots,  while  the  unseen  terrors  of  that  which  is  to 
come  are  impressed  upon  the  imagination  with  ineffaceable  power. 
Life  had  been,  however,  to  this  humble  family,  chary  of  its  favors, 
and  with  pleasant  recollections,  there  was  sprinkled  too  freely  the 
remembrance  of  suffering  and  wrong.     It  is  true  that  a  final  sepa 
ration  from  the  presence  of  the  living,  and  the  ashes  of  dead,  rela 
tives,  caused  more  than  a  temporary  pang.     But  to  them  alone  was 
paid  the  tribute  of  a  tear.     The  municipal  and  social  laws  of  Eng 
land  merited  and  received  the  bitterest  execration.    That  which  the 
privileged  classes  so  often  favor  with  their  laudations,  and  with  such 
offensive   bigotry  require   others   to  endorse,  was   viewed  by  the 
Kanes,  as  it  is  by  all  who  are  not  bribed  to  defend  it  by  money  or 
position,  with  the  most  intense  disgust.     If  there  is  any  one  thing 
which  becomes  a  subject  of  amusement  to  foreigners,  more  than 
another,  when  the  transparent  egotism  of  John  Bull — we  mean  the 
well  fed  John  Bull,  if,  indeed,  it  would  not  be  considered  a  "  bull" 
to  intimate  that  a  person  pinched  with  hunger  could  represent  that 
burly  character — is  displayed,  with  his  hereditary  vanity,  it  is  the 
complacency  with  which,  overlooking  the  misery  that  is  plainly  visi 
ble  to  the  whole  world  beside,  he  congratulates  himself  upon  the 
evidences  of  wealth  and  power  which  his  country  exhibits.     With 
such  ludicrous  intentness  are  his  eyes  riveted  upon  these  objects 
of  his  idolatry,  that  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  him  to  see,  much 
more  to  relieve,  the  world  of  human  agony  upon  which  rests  the 
vast  and  hideous  superstructure  of  British  despotism.     But  while 
he  invariably  overlooks  the   suffering  that  is  visible  upon  every 
square  yard  of  the  British  Empire,  he  engages  with  characteris 
tic  zeal  in  the  small  business  of  pointing  out  the  short-comings 
of  his  neighbors.     He  manifests  at  this  game  more  than  his  accu's- 
tomed  malignity  and  tact.     In  short,  John  Bull,  by  his  prying  hab- 


56  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

its,  has  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  among  nations  what  the 
musquito  is  to  the  insect  tribe,  always  busy,  never  satisfied  ;  and 
like  that  loquacious  insect,  no  crevice  is  too  small  for  him  to  enter 
while  attempting  to  instil  his  poison.  Such,  at  least,  is  the  general 
reputation  of  John  Bull  among  those  who  know  him  sufficiently 
well  not  to  be  deceived  by  his  pretensions,  or  who  do  not  suffer 
their  judgment  to  be  controlled  by  his  own  opinion  of  what  con 
stitutes  a  powerful,  wealthy,  and  charitable  people. 

So  far  as  his  experience  guided  him,  Robert  Kane  entertained 
these  opinions.  And  it  was,  therefore,  with  a  satisfaction  greatly 
overbalancing  regret  that  he  severed  the  tie  which,  to  him  and  his, 
had  been  fruitful  of  misfortune. 

"  And  now,  Mary,  since  we  have  concluded  to  start  to-morrow, 
how  do  you  feel  ?" 

"  Very  happy,  Robert." 

"And  you,  Henry  7" 

"  I  shall  never  have  to  fi^ht  any  more  to  keep  sis  from  being 
hurt." 

"  That  seems  to  run  in  your  head." 

"  Because  the  pain  hazent  left  my  head  yet,  I  suppose." 

The  fond  parents  exchanged  approving  glances. 

"  And  what  says  little  Dolly  t" 

The  little  girl  brushed  away  the  drowsiness  that  began  to  settle 
upon  her  eyelids. 

"  I'se  will  go  any  where  wid  you,  and  ma,  and  Henry,  and — and 
Frank  Tot." 

A  knock  was  heard  upon  the  door.  Mary's  cheek  blanched,  while 
the  lines  on  Robert's  brow  deepened  into  an  angry  frown.  Walk 
ing  to  the  desk,  he  took  from  it  a  long  dirk-knife,  and  inserted  it 
in  his  bosom  ;  and  then,  elevating  his  form  to  its  full  height,  he  said, 
in  a  stern  voice, 

"  Come  in." 

The  door  creaked  upon  its  hinges,  and  the  round,  jolly  face  of 
Hogan  was  seen.  Robert's  features  relaxed. 

"  Welcome,  Phil,  I  am  delighted  to  see  you." 

A  glad  smile  was  Mary's  only  salutation  ;  the  reaction  was  too 
powerful  for  words. 

''You  lea;ve  to-morrow,  Robert1?" 

"If  no  unforeseen  difficulty  prevents  me." 

"  Will  you  have  the  kindness  to  walk  over  to  Martin  Lennon's ; 
he  wishes  to  send  a  message  to  his  son." 

"  Oh  no  !  no !  he  must  not  go  into  the  street  to-night,"  almost 
shrieked  Mrs.  Kane. 

"  Why  not  ?  Surely  no  harm  can  happen  to  him  going  the  mat 
ter  of  half  a  dozen  streets." 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  Phil,  I  am  fearful  of  being  attacked  by 
the  press-gang." 

"  Oh,  if  that  is  the  case,  I  will  not  insist.  I  would  not  have  asked 
you  to  go  over  at  all,  only  the  old  man  seemed  so  very  anxious  to 
see  you." 

"  Did  he  seem  so  ?"  asked  Robert,  musingly. 

"  Yes." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  57 

"  Why  did  he  not  send  a  letter  ?" 

"  I  axed  him  that,  an'  he  said  lie  was  too  old  to  write." 

Mary,  with  parted  lips,  watched  the  thoughtful  countenance  of 
her  husband. 

"It  is  shameful  that  nn  Englishman  should  be  afraid  to  carry  a 
message  from  an  old  soldier  to  his  son.  I  will  go." 

Robert  raised  his  head  from  his  bosom,  and,  taking  his  hat,  stood 
in  th'e  door-way. 

"  But  dear,  dear  Robert,  if  any  thing  should  happen  to  you,  what 
will  become  of  us  T'  and  her  eyes  wandered  to  her  children, 

"  Mary,  that  old  man  assisted  me  once,  when  I  thought  all  man 
kind  were  my.  foes.  He  has  but  one  son,  who  is  now  in  the  United 
States.  If  I  can  lighten  the  grief  of  the  scarred  veteran,  and  make 
his  few  remaining  days  happy,  shall  I  hesitate  to  do  so,  because  we 
apprehend,  perhaps,  imaginary  dangers  ?" 

The  lip  of  his  wife  trembled,  while  she  regarded  him  with  tear 
ful  eyes. 

"  Father,  1  would  do  so  much  for  the  eld  soldier." 

"  You  are  right,  my  boy." 

u  But  if  they  should — oh,  if  they  should "T 

She  could  say  no  more,  for  she  burst  into  tears. 

"  Mary,  don't  cry  ;  Phil  will  go  with  me,  and  I  will  return  in 
half  an  hour.  There,  now,  cheer  up." 

He  encircled  her  waist  with  his  arm,  and  pressed  his  lips  to  her 
own. 

"  Good-night,  Mrs.  Kane,  I  will  see  you  off  to-morrow." 

"  Good-night,"  she  replied,  sorrowfully,  as  she  followed  the  re 
ceding  form  of  Robert  to  the  door ;  and  as  he  left  the  house,  she 
sank  upon  the  floor  overcome  with  apprehension. 

Robert,  accompanied  by  Hogan,  proceeded  rapidly  towards  the 
house  of  Martin  Lennon.  The  streets  were  quiet  and  deserted,  and 
there  was  no  appearance  of  danger. 

But  Robert's  departure  had  been  observed  by  Matthew  Riley  ; 
and  with  stealthy  steps  he  descended  into  the  street  a  few  moments 
after  the  other  left  the  house,  and  swiftly  proceeded  towards  the 
head-quarters  of  Dwy ville  Hurdy  and  his  band. 

"  I  have  him  now,"  he  muttered,  with  fiendish  joy.  "  Fool  that 
he  was  to  venture  out  to-night.  And  I  have  him,  too,  just  at  the 
moment  when  he  thinks  he  will  escape  me." 

"  What — are  you  talking  about  ship-mate  .'"  exclaimed  a  gruff 
voice,  whose  language  was  accented  by  drunkenness. 

"  About  nothing  that  interests  you,"  replied  Riley.  as  he  attempt 
ed  to  pass  the  other  upon  the  narrow  side-walk. 

"  Heave  to  and  show  your  colors,  or  I'll  stave  in  your  bulwarks," 
retorted  the  seaman,  as,  steadying  himself  with  great  difficulty,  he 
prepared  to  exercise  a  little  of  that  "  wholesome  discipline,"  to 
which,  having  been  freely  subjected  himself,  he  felt  at  liberty  to 
practice  upon  all  the  queen's  subjects  who  happened  to  be  under 
sail  at  that  late  hour. 

"  I  tell  you  to  let  me  pass  or  I  will  call  the  police." 

"Avast  there,  comrade,  don't  you  know  that  martial  law  is  sup- 

4 


58  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

m-supe-s\i-pe-re~er  to  civil  law.     Heave  to,  and  ran  up  yer  colors 
or  I'll  sink  yer." 

"  Let  me  pass,  you  drunken  beast,"  cried  Riley  fiercely. 

"  Boarders,  to  the  assault,"  shouted  the  sailor. 

Poising  his  huge  frame  for  an  attack,  totally  unexpected  by 
Riley,  he  hurled  himself  forward,  rather  than  aimed  a  blow,  and 
his  fists  coming  in  contact  with  the  stomach  of  that  individual,  he 
was  doubled  up,  and  before  he  could  regain  his  natural  attitude,  he 
came  violently  in  contact  with  a  Jamp-pos-t.  The  sailor  would  have 
been  seriously  injured  in  his  fall  upon  the  sidewalk,  bat  for  the  re 
laxed  condition  of  his  frame;  a  circumstance  to  which  all  inebri 
ates,  as  well  as  opossums,  are  indebted  for  an  exemption  from 
broken  bones. 

With  endeavors  that  appeared  for  some  time  of  doubtful  suc 
cess,  the  sailor  attempted  to  regain  his  feet,  but  seeing  the  difficulty 
of  accomplishing  that  desirable  object  without  the  aid  of  extraneous 
assistance,  he  scratched  his  head,  and  setting  his  hat  firmly  upon 
his  brows,  proceeded  to  "  take  possession  of  the  disabled  craft,"  as 
he  called  the  insensible  form  of  Riley.  To  that  end  he  crawled 
along  upon  his  hands  and  knees,  and  pulling  out  a  flaming  hand 
kerchief  turned  Riley  uver,  and  commenced  binding  his  arms  to 
his  side. 

"  You  see  the  victor  always  runs  up  his  own  colors,  messmate, 
so  you  will  be  after  excusing  me  for  displaying  this  little  bit  of 
bunting." 

Riley  slowly  returned  to  consciousness,  and  at  length  fixed  his 
eyes  upon  the  sailor  with  a  perfect  recollection  of  what  had  taken 
place.  Retaining  a  firm  grasp  upon  the  handkerchief,  the  sailor 
addressed  his  captive  with  the  confidence  of  a  man  who  had  per 
formed  a  brilliant  exploit. 

"  Steady,  ho  !  Don't  remain  any  longer  upon  your  beam  ends. 
Right  yourself,  man.  There  now,  hoist  my  sheet  anchor;  the 
wind  is  fair,  heave  away  !  You  see,  I'm  not  the  first  heavy  craft 
that's  run  aground  in  following  a  light  one  into  shoal  water." 

"  Now  I  hope  you  are  satisfied.     Let  me  go." 

"  Not  so  fast,  1  must  take  you  into  port.  You'll  make  a  handy 
little  craft  for  the  cabin." 

"  What,  you  don't  mean  to  say  you  are  going  to  impress  me," 
shrieked  Riley,  appalled  at  the  fate  he  was  endeavoring  to  inflict 
upon  Kane. 

*"  Call  it  what  you  like,  landlubber,  though  in  seaman's  phrase  it 
is  known  as  making  use  of  a  prize,  so  come  along." 

"  But  I  have  a  helpless  family  at  home  who  are  dependent  upon 
me  for  bread,"  said  Riley,  as  the  cold  sweat  gathered  upon  his 
forehead. 

"  Shall  we  try  it  yard-arm  and  yaid-arm  again,"  said  the  sailor, 
squaring  himself. 

"  Oh,  no,  not  that,"  replied  the  other,  shivering  with  terror. 

"Then  let  me  bring  you  into  port." 

The  old  salt  reeled  along  the  sidewalk,  and  at  every  lurch 
hauled  Rilev  after  him.  The  latter  individual,  now  almost  palsied 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  59 

with  fright,  cast  eager  glances  around  in  hope  of  a  rescue,  but  no 
footsteps  fell  upon  the  pavement  except  their  own. 

At  length  a  thought  flashed  upon  his  mind.  He  had  often  heard 
of  the  liberality  of  sailors. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  coaxingly,  "  you  will  not  take  me  on  board 
ship  without  treating  me?" 

The  sailor  arrested  his  footsteps,  and  in  gaining  an  equilibrium 
the  form  of  Mr.  Riley  was  made  to  swing  back  and  forth  like  the 
vibrations  of  a  pendulum. 

For  a  small  craft  what  a  lurch  you  have,  shipmate.  Treat 
you?  To  be  sure  I  will,  if  I  have  any  money  left.  Let  me  over 
haul  the  old  chest.  I  gave  that  soldier  one  crown  ;  his  pretty 
daughter  another.  By  the  shade  of  Columbus,  her  build  is  beauti 
ful.  I  spent  another  at  the  Ball  and  Anchor,  and  I  had  four  so 
there  ought  to  be  another  amidships." 

Releasing  his  hold  upon  Riley,  he  was  attempting  to  find  the 
crown  that,  perhaps,  existed  only  in  his  imagination,  wnen  his  pri 
soner  suddenly  darted  away  and  ran  swiftly  down  the  street. 

Only  for  a  moment  astounded  by  the  audacity  of  the  escape,  the 
sailor  gave  chase. 

"  Heave  to  !  how  dare  you  set  sail  from  beneath  my  very  guns 
1 11  pour  a  broadside  into  you.  Heave  to  !  heave  to  !" 

But  the  sailor  ran  awkwardly,  and  with  legs  wide  apart  so  as  to 
meet  any  sudden  lurch  of  the  earth.  In  the  meantime  Riley  turn 
ed  down  first  one  street  and  then  another  with  such  rapidity  that 
at  last  he  disappeared  altogether. 

The  sailor,  completely  baffled,  drew  up  against  a  post. 

"  I'll  rest  here  for  a  fresh  breeze.     Did  any  one  ever  see  a  prize 
cut  ou?  more  beautifully ;    and  if  the  piratical  villain  has  not 
cleaned  me  of  my  last  crown  well,  he  deserves  it,  for,  by  the  shade 
of  Columbus,  it  was  handily  done." 

Matthew  Riley,  notwithstanding  his  narrow  escape  from  imminent 
peril,  felt  no  commiseration  for  Robert  Kane  ;  on  the  contrary,  he 
was  prompted  by  a  fiendish  impulse  to  lead  him  on  to  that  doom, 
the  mere  contemplation  of  which  had  palsied  his  own  heart  with 

tiaririv 


terror. 


\Vith  heaving  chest  and  trembling  limbs  Riley  entered  the  room 
where  Hurdy  could  usually  be  found. 

"  Where  is  Hurdyj?"  he  inquired,  eagerly. 

||  Gone  to  Fletcher's." 

"  Hell  and  furies  !  was  ever  any  thing  so  unfortunate  Here 
release  my  arms.  There  may  yet  be  time ;"  and  he  rushed  into 
the  street. 

Courage !  noble,  generous  Kane,  there  is  still  hope  for  you  ! 

He  had  received  the  message  of  the  aged  soldier  with  a  promise 
to  deliver  it,  and  was  retracing  his  steps  homeward,  having  assured 
Hogan  that  his  presence  would  not  be  required.  His  heart  bounded 
with  that  strange  delight  which  is  rarely  felt,  and  then  only  when 
some  great  success  is  the  reward  of  an  enterprise,  upon  which 
doubt  serves  to  rivet  our  hopes  with  greater  intentness. 

So  absorbingly  did  his  thoughts  dwell  upon  the  picture,  that  ha 
failed  to  observe  the  crowd  tnat  was  gathering  around  him.  One 


60  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

by  one  they  dropped  into  the  street  from  hefore  and  behind,  from 
each  dark  alley,  or  more  public  thoroughfare,  until,  as  he  stood  mo 
tionless,  he  was  surrounded  by  a  dark,  and  evidently  a  hostile 
group.  Conspicuous  among  them  he  recognized  the  face  of  Dwy- 
ville  Hurdy,  from  whose  solitary  eye  gleamed  an  expression  of  fe 
rocious  joy,  while  across  the  way  stood  the  scoundrel  who  had 
betrayed  him.  For  a  few  moments  they  glared  upon  their  victim. 
Kane  paused  like  a  stag  at  bay,  and  then  aware  that  his  only 
chance  of  escape  was  to  act  on  the  offensive,  he  drew  his  dirk  and 
bounded  forward.  Knowing  that  to  shed  blood  where  none  but  per 
jured  villains  could  witness  the  provocation  was  almost  as  much  to 
be  dreaded  as  to  be  overpowered  in  the  conflict,  he  endeavored  to 
force  a  passage  without  using  his  weapon.  Three  of  the  gang 
were  hurled  to  the  ground  by  his  muscular  arm,  and  but  one  foe 
opposed  his  flight,  when  the  powerful  grasp  of  Hurdy  was  laid  upon 
his  shoulder  ;  the  dirk  was  wrested  from  his  grasp,  and  he  stood 
powerless  in  the  midst  of  his  enemies. 

"  Men  !  men  !  why  do  you  hunt  me  like  a  beast  ?  I  am  flesh  and 
blood  like  yourselves  ;  for  God's  sake  let  me  return  to  my  wife  and 
children.  They  will  starve  without  me." 

The  only  response  to  this  appeal  was  a  roar  of  laughter. 
"  I  implore  you,  in  the  name  of  your  mothers,  of  your  sisters,  of 
your  wives,  to  release  me.     If  you  only  knew  the  agony  that  my 
poor,  dear,  helpless  wife  will  feel  when  she  hears  of  my  fate,  I  am 
sure,  oh,  1  am  very  sure,  you  would  release  me." 

"Tush,  man,  don't  bellow  so.  I'll  take  your  wife  under  my 
protection." 

Again  a  coarse  laugh,  accompanied  by  rude  jests,  rang  upon  the 
night  air. 

"  Merciful  heaven  !  is  our  fate  indeed  so  terrible  ?"  groaned 
Robert,  in  the  anguish  of  his  heart. 

The  sound  of  wheels  was  heard  approaching,  and  by  the  light  of 
the  moon  Robert  saw  a  liveried  driver  seated  upon  the  box.  A 
faint  hope  that  one  of  the  aristocracy  might  have  a  greater  respect 
for  what  that  class  are  so  fond  of  calling  the  rights  of  Englishmen, 
than  the  fiends  in  whose  clutches  he  found  himself,  prompted 
Kane  stoutly  to  resist  the  attempt  to  force  him  into  a  dark  alley 
leading  from  the  street. 

The  resistance  aroused  to  desperation  the  angry  passions  of  the 
gang. 

"  Kill  him  if  he  will  not  yield,"  shouted  Hurdy,  as  lie  leveled  a 
blow  with  a  heavy  cane  which  fell  upon  the  side  of  Robert's  head 
with  such  force  that  the  blood  gushed  from  a  long  cut  in  the  tem 
ple.  He  staggered  under  the  effects  of  the  blow,  and  came  down 
upon  one  knee. 

"  Will  that  make  you  go  quietly  ?"  exclaimed  Hurdy,  savagely. 
"  My  wife,  one  more  struggle  for  my  wife  !"  and  with  a  mighty 
effort  he  shook  off  his  assailants  and  reached  the  carriage. 

"  Oh,  Lord  Melville  !  thank  God  it  is  you  !  I  know  your  lord 
ship  will  save  me." 

"  I  don't  know  you,  fellow  ;  you  are  impertinent,"  replied  his 
lordship,  mincingly. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  61 

"  But  let  me  wipe  the  blood  from  my  face  ;  there,  you  recollect 
me  now  ;  I  am  the  brother  of  Christie  Kane,  your  father's  ten 
ant." 

"  Then  to  hell  with  you,  as  well  as  your  brother,"  said  Melville, 
fiercely. 

"  But  mercy,  have  mercy,  my  lord  ;  my  wife — " 

"  Drive  on,  Hartman." 

"  She  will  die—" 

"  On  !  on  !"  screamed  his  lordship. 

"  What  an  obstinate  brute  !"  yelled  Hurdy.  "  But  may  perdi 
tion  seize  me  if  I  do  not  subdue  you."  Again  the  staff  descended 
upon  Robert's  devoted  head,  and  this  time  it  fell  upon  the  scarcely 
healed  wound  he  had  received  a  few  days  before.  Human  nature 
could  endure  no  more,  and  the  poor  fellow  sunk  powerless  to  the 
earth.  Raising  him  in  their  arms  they  bore  him  to  the  Thames, 
where  he  was  taken  on  board  a  small  government  craft  and  heavily 
ironed.  Thus  were  crushed  the  bright  hopes  of  liberty  and  pro 
tection  which  that  humble  family  had  so  fondly  cherished.  And 
yet  such  aggravated  cases  of  human  woe  are  never  alluded  to  by 
those  who  are  always  boasting  of  the  bliss  enjoyed  by  the  inhabi 
tants  of  merry  England  ! 

There  was  a  solitary  person  near  the  scene  of  the  late  conflict. 
Matthew  Riley  was  still  gloating  over  the  recollection  of  human 
suffering.  So  intense  was  his  delight  that  he  could  not  tear  him 
self  from  the  spot,  and  he  rubbed  his  hands  and  chuckled  gleefully. 
Suddenly  he  was  aroused  by  a  heavy  hand  that  grasped  his  shoulder. 
The  marrow  in  his  rattling  bones  seemed  to  crawl  as  he  cowered 
beneath  the  glance  of  the  sailor. 

"  I've  overhauled  you,  shipmate,  after  a  long  starn  chase,  and 
this  time  I  will  take  care  that  you  don't  escape  under  convoy  of 
my  good  nature.  And  first  of  all,  I  will  release  your  hold  of  the 
crown  you  piratically  took  from  me.  Yes,  here  it  is.  You  not 
only  escaped  with  arms,  but  captured  prize  money." 

Riley  saw  from  the  determined  manner  of  the  sailor,  who  was 
now  sober,  that  remonstrance  w-ould  be  useless,  and  with  bloodshot 
eyes  and  hueless  features,  submitted  to  his  fate. 

"  You  have  only  to  serve  his  majesty  faithfully  for  three  years, 
and  then  if  there  "is  no  necessity  for  your  services,  and  you  fight 
gallantly,  or  are  killed,  or  so  maimed  as  to  be  unserviceable,  per 
haps  you  won't  be  wanted  any  longer.  So  cheer  up,  messmate. 
Lord  love  you,  I  have  been  pressed  into  the  service  three  times. 
First  it  went  hard,  as  it  will  with  you,mayhaps.  But  avast  there, 
you  will  get  accustomed  to  it,  and  like  it,  too.  And  they  have  such 
wholesome  discipline  :  the  beating  which  seemed  to  give  you  so 
much  pleasure  a  few  minutes  ago,  is  nothing  to  it." 

Riley  groaned. 

"  To  be  sure  the  officers  break  heads  sometimes  in  moments  of 
passion  ;  but  the  genteel  way,  and  one  which  they  enjoy  the  most, 
because  it  requires  no  exercise — nothing  but  calm,  placid  delight — 
is  to  see  the  skin  of  the  sailor  cut  and  mangled  by  the  cat.  It  of 
ten  happens  during  a  voyage,  and  sometimes  when  it  is  deserved. 
My  back  has  been  cut  into  every  kind  of  shape,  and  I  have  the  satis- 


OS  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

faction  of  knowing  that,  although  the  operation  has  been  performed 
seven  times,  it  was  merited  twice.  That's  some  gratification.  They 
didn't  lacerate  my  skin  them  times  for  nothing,  anyhow ;"  and  the 
old  salt  chuckled  gleefully.  ';  But  here  we  are  on  the  bank  of  the 
Thames." 

"  Will  you,  oh  !  will  you  release  me  T' 

"  Avast !  shipmate,  1  might  have  let  your  wretched  craft  escape 
before  the  wind  if  you  had  not  stole  my  money  under  the  false  flag 
of  good  fellowship.  Even  that  I  might  have  forgiven,  if  you  had 
not  proved  yourself  so  destitute  of  feeling  when  that  gallant  fellow 
begged  so  hard  for  his  wife  and  children.  In  then  with  you,  and 
thank  yourself  at  the  prospect  of  the  world  being  rid  of  such  a 
monster  through  the  agency  of  a  cannon-ball  or  boarding-pike.  Into 
the  boat  wfth  you." 

The  terror  that  had  appalled  the  craven  heart  of  the  coward  faded 
before  the  feelings  of  shame  and  rage  that  took  possession  of  his 
soul  as  he  found  himself  in  the  presence  of  Robert  Kane,  like  him 
heavily  ironed  and  strictly  guarded. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"  A  troop  of  tall  horsemen  !  how  fearless  they  ride  ! 

'Tis  a  perilous  path  o'er  that  steep  mountain  side." — NEAL. 

A  SUCCESSION  of  stormy  days  utterly  ruined  the  wheat  crops  of 
Christie  Kane.  This  misfortune  destroyed  all  prospects  of  paying 
the  rent,  and  there  was  no  other  recourse  but  ejectment  from  the 
premises.  This  was  a  hard  fate,  because  Christie  Kane  had  ex 
erted  his  energies  to  the  utmost  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  a  home 
for  his  mother.  Now,  hope  had  abandoned  him,  for  he  expected  in 
a  few  days  to  be  turned  houseless  and  homeless  upon  the  world. 
Not  a  result  to  be  much  dreaded  by  a  young  man  with  a  strong 
frame  and  a  stout  heart,  but  to  be  feared  as  a  calamity  when  a  fe 
male  relies  upon  him  for  shelter  and  support.  Christie  Kane  be 
came  more  gloomy  and  morose,  notwithstanding  the  taunts  of  his 
mother  and  the  cheerful  sallies  of  Phelim  Savor,  whose  good  hu 
mor  was  unconquerable.  A  settled  conviction  had  fastened  itself 
upon  his  mind  that  the  political  and  moral  structure  of  the  English 
government  and  society  was  all  wrong.  He  felt  that  he  walked  the 
earth  as  noble  and  as  worthy  of  freedom  as  the  proudest  lordling 
in  the  kingdom  ;  and  yet  the  strong  arm  of  the  government,  which 
ought  to  protect  him,  only  sought  to  crush  him.  It  first  tried  to 
debase  the  spirit  that  God  had  implanted  in  his  bosom,  and  then 
seized  upon  the  earnings  that  had  been  won  through  storms  and 
heat.  He  was  conscious  of  possessing  a  cultivated  mind,  generous 
impulses,  and  honorable  principles  ;  nevertheless,  fashionable  soci 
ety  had  placed  its  ban  upon  him,  and  he  was  socially  outlawed. 
His  position  was  expressed  by  one  word — he  was  a.  plebeian.  It  is 
not  strange  that  his  proud  spirit  fretted  at  its  destiny.  It  perhaps 
would  not  have  forced  itself  upon  his  mind  with  quite  so  much 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  63 

power,  if  he  had  not  daily  witnessed  the  exercise  of  authority  by 
persons  in  every  way  inferior  to  himself.  Power  was  conferred 
upon  titled  spendthrifts,  to^ontrol  the  happiness  and  health  of  ten 
ants  and  operatives,  and  in  some  instances  he  had  seen  it  wielded 
with  a  remorseless  cruelty  that  brought  its  victims  to  their  graves 
at  an  early  age.  And  yet  the  infamous  laws  of  England  legalized 
these  atrocious  murders. 

While  he  was  contemplating  the  destruction  of  his  crops,  the  fes 
tivities  in  the  castles  of  Momlow  and  Montague  were  at  their 
height.  Large  accessions  had  been  made  to  the  guests  of  the 
Countess  of  Rossmore  and  Duchess  of  Sunderland  ;  and  as  both  of 
those  ladies  moved  in  the  same  circle  in  London  society,  there  was 
a  constant  interchange  of  civilities  between  them,  so  that  their 
guests  were  often  thrown  together.  They  had  exhausted  all  the 
ordinary  sources  of  amusement,  when  it  was  determined  to  have 
a  grand  steeple-chase,  to  be  followed  by  a  magnificent  ball  at  the 
Castle  of  Montague.  Great  preparations  were  made  for  both 
events.  Not  only  the  nobility  and  gentry,  who  resided  in  that  part 
of  the  kingdom,  prepared  to  attend,  but  large  additions  were  made 
from  the  list  of  those  who  could  only  be  induced  to  leave  "  charm 
ing  London  for  the  stupid  country"  by  some  extraordinary  attrac 
tion.  The  day  at  length  arrived.  The  sun,  tired  of  having  his 
rays  obscured  by  the  clouds  which  rolled  up  from  the  west  as  if 
they  would  never  cease,  now  burst  through  the  wall  of  vapor,  and 
cast  his  beams  over  the  earth.  It  was  a  4k  glorious  day,"  was  the 
universal  exclamation. 

Phelim  Savor  had  taken  more  than  ordinary  pains  with  the  dap 
ple  gray.  He  was  favored  with  a  bran  new  pair  of  shoes.  His 
hair  had  been  rubbed  until  it  exhibited  a  beautiful  gloss  ;  and,  in  the 
estimation  of  Mr.  Savor,  Surry  was  as  fine  an  animal  as  could  be 
seen  in  the  United  Kingdom. 

"  Yez  needdent  ba  ashamed  of  yersel'  to-day,  Maister  Christie, 
ony  how,  for  the  likes  of  that  horse  will  ba  hard  to  find  at  the  steeple 
chase.  I  wish  he  could  have  a  trial  wid  the  rest  of  them  ;  for,  be 
the  holy  St.  Patrick  !  there's  niver  a  horse  of  bitter  pidigree  in  all 
England.  And  why  should'ent  ye1?  if  yersel',  Maister  Christie, 
aint  quite  as  noble-blooded  as  the  lords  beyant,  Surry  can  make  it 
up,  for  he  can  boast  a  longer  line  of  distinguished  ancestors,  on  both 
sides  of  the  house,  too,  than  any  nobleman  who  will  ride  to-day  ; 
and  sure,  honey,  that  ought  to  make  the  thing  aquil." 

"  Do  you  wish  to  see  the  race,  Phelim  V  asked  Christie  Kane, 
as  he  threw  himself  into  the  saddle. 

"Very  much,  indade,  if  yez  plaze." 

"  You  will  have  to  walk  there." 

"  I  would  walk  the  matter  of  ten  miles  ony  day  to  see  a  steeple 
chase." 

"  You  can  witness  it  from  here,  as  the  course  crosses  a  portion 
of  our  farm." 

Phelim  resorted  to  that  method  of  his  class  to  show  his  embar 
rassment.  He  scratched  his  head. 

"  Well  ?"  suggested  Christie. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  Surry  among  blooded  horses,  Maister  Chri*- 


64  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

tie,  it  is  so  sildom  he  gets  into  the  company  of  thim  as  can  call 
thimselves  aristocratic  horses.  Though,  be  my  sowl  !  there's  divil 
a  horse  will  ba  seen  on  the  estate  of  *Lord  Rossmore  this  blissed 
day  that  can  boast  sich  a  noble  birth  as  the  dapple  gray." 

"  Go,  then,"  replied  Christie,  as  he  turned  Surry's  head  towards 
the  castle  of  Montague. 

"  Whoop  !"  ejaculated  Phelim,  as  he  sprang  into  the  air,  and 
cracked  his  heels  twice  together  before  he  came  down  :  a  flourish 
that,  we  regret  to  say,  was  performed  without  the  usual  appendages 
6f  shoes  and  stockings.  They  were  not  considered  by  Phelim  as 
absolutely  necessary  appendages  to  that  portion  of  the  human  frame 
which  is  brought  in  contact  with  the  ground.  An  opinion  which  he 
had  been  known  to  defend,  upon  the  assumption  that  the  feet  were 
no  better  than  the  earth,  because  Adam's  whole  body,  feet  included, 
were  manufactured  from  that  material,  and  he  did  not  consider  him 
self  any  better  than  Adam.  If  made  out  of  the  earth,  he  was  wont 
to  say,  it  could  be  no  disgrace  for  them  to  come  freely  in  contact 
with  it,  if  it  was  only  to  show  a  proper  regard  for  kith  and  kin. 
Mr.  Savor  admitted  that,  with  gentle  folk,  it  might  be  altogether  a 
different  affair,  because  their  feet  having  been  so  long  separated 
from  the  ground,  there  was  no  obligation  to  recognize  the  relation 
ship,  only  so  far  as  they  condescended  to  cozen  it  out  of  nearly  all 
the  generous  bounties  it  bestowed  upon  the  human  race. 

From  an  early  hour  throngs  of  people  crowded  to  the  spot  se 
lected  for  the  competitors  to  start  for  the  prize.  They  came  in 
carriages,  on  horseback,  and  on  foot.  From  far  and  near,  the 
wealthy,  the  aristocratic,  and  the  poor  gathered  to  witness  an  event 
which  is  always  regarded  with  interest  by  the  patrician  and  plebeian. 
No  obstacle  was  interposed  by  Lord  Rossmore  and  the  Duke  of 
Sunderland,  upon  whose  estates  the  steeple-chase  was  to  occur,  to 
the  ingress  of  the -lower  classes.  It  was  one  of  the  cheap  ways  of 
purchasing  their  acquiescence  in  the  present  order  of  things,  for 
they  had  a  happy  faculty  of  identifying  the  princely  exhibitions  of 
the  landed  proprietors  with  their  own  humble  fortunes.  The  sight 
of  a  steeple-chase  made  hundreds  unmindful  of  hunger  when  they 
went  supperless  to  bed. 

The  carriages  of  the  Duke  of  Sunderland  and  the  Earl  of  Mon 
tague  had  arrived  upon  the  ground,  each  followed  by  a  long  train 
of  distinguished  persons.  The  judges'  stand  was  erected  upon  the 
brow  of  an  elevated  plateau,  commanding  an  extensive  and  beau 
tiful  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  including  hill,  dale,  wood 
land,  lakes,  and  streams. 

Along  the  slope  of  the  hill  were  ranged  the  carriages  of  the  most 
illustrious  of  the  spectators  ;  and  in  the  centre  of  the  group,  Katha 
rine  Montague,  who  was  to  bestow  the  reward  upon  the  succesful 
competitor,  sat  upon  a  milk-white  steed,  that  scattered  the  foam 
upon  his  glistening  hair  as  he  impatiently  shook  the  reins.  She 
was  attired  in  a  black  riding-dress  of  rich  material,  and  wore  a  black 
hat  without  feathers. 

"  My  lord,  I  hope  you  may  be  more  successful  in  your  trial  to 
day  than  you  were  on  the  occasion  of  your  unwilling  visit  to  the 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  65 

lake  in  front  of  Montague  Castle,"  said  Katherine  Montague,  as 
Lord  Melville  rode  up  and  made  his  salutations. 

"  Lady  Katherine,  I  hope  you  will  forget  that  affair  some  day," 
he  replied,  with  evident  annoyance. 

"  Not  until  memory  fails  me,"  said  the  merry  girl. 
"  What  adventure  do  you  refer  to  ?"  inquired  Sir  William  Bel- 
thoven. 

"  Lord  Melville  will  relate  it." 

"  Lord  Melville  will  do  nothing  of  the  kind,  with  your  ladyship's 
permission,"  responded  the  irritated  noble,  as  he  spurred  his  horse 
to  the  judges'  stand. 

He  was  mounted  upon  a  black  horse  that  had  made  some  at 
tempts  at  the  Derby  stakes,  and  not  without  fair  prospects,  if  he 
had  been  ridden  with  judgment. 

He  was  a  thorough-bred  and  powerfully-built  animal.  He  had 
many  admirers  too  among1  the  fairer  portion  of  the  company,  but 
whether  the  brilliant  prospects,  and  really  fine  person  of  his  rider, 
added  to  the  beauty  of  the  animal,  none  of  them  took  occasion  to 
explain. 

"  Lord  Melville  seems  annoyed  at  your  remarks,"  observed  Sir 
William  Belthoven,  who  being  an  M.  P.,  did  not  think  it  just  to  his 
constituents  and  the  government,  to  peril  his  invaluable  life  in  the 
uncertain  chances  of  a  steeple-chase. 

"  It  will  make  him  contend  with  more  fearlessness  for  the  prize, 
though  to  do  him  justice,  he  is  a  bold  rider." 

"  Well,  Kate,"  said  the  Earl  of  Rossmore,  a  line  specimen  of  the 
English  nobility,  "  a  goodly  number  of  gallants  will  contend  for  the 
prize  you  will  have  the  pleasure  of  bestowing." 
"  How  many  have  entered  the  lists  ?" 

"  Fifteen,  already,  and  half  an  hour  more  must  elapse  before 
they  will  be  closed.  What,  my  lord  of  Delmore ;  it  is  an  unex 
pected  pleasure  to  see  you  once  more  on  the  turf." 

This  salutation  was  addressed  to  a  gentleman  somewhat  advanced 
beyond  the  morning  of  life.  His  whiskers  and  bearing  betrayed 
the  old  bachelor. 

"  How  could  it  be  otherwise,  when  your  charming  daughter  be 
stows  the  guerdon  of  beauty  T' 

Lord  Delmore  gracefully  raised  his  hat,  and  bowed. 
"  Always  yourself,  my  lord,"  replied  Katherine  Montague,  ex 
tending  her  gloved  hand,  which  the  veteran  and  accomplished  beau 
reverently  pressed   to  his  lips,  as  an  acknowledgment  to  what  he 
considered  a  graceful  compliment. 

"  Your  lordship  is  well  mounted,"  observed  the  lady,  casting  an 
admiring  glance  at  the  superb  bay  Lord  Delmore  strode.  "  I  am 
glad  to  see  his  points  indicate  great  powers  of  endurance,  for  your 
form  appears  more  portly  to  me  than  when  I  first  saw  you,  now  some 
fifteen  years  ago." 

Lord  Delmore  was  very  sensitive  upon  the  subject  of  his  size, 
and  nothing  annoyed  him  more  than  an  allusion  to  his  increasing 
weight,  for  not  many  years  had  elapsed  since  he  considered  himself 
little  less  faultless  than  the  Apollo-Belvidere.  His  lordship,  how- 

4* 


66  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

ever,  had  been  too  long  in  society  to  suffer  his  annoyance  to  be  ob 
served,  and  he  replied  with  a  grateful  smile, 

"  I  am  glad  your  ladyship  is  kind  enough  to  notice  the  relative 
extent  of  my  proportions,  for  to  be  observed  by  the  fair  sex  is  evi 
dence  that  we  are  still  of  some  consideration." 

"  Doubtless,  mv  lord,  you  are  yet  of  very  decided  importance, 
for  I  heard  old  Lady  Margaret  Summerville  observe  the  other  day, 
with  a  simper,  that  she  knew  of  no  one  who  would  be  more  likely 
to  tempt  her  so  far  to  forget  the  dear  defunct  Sir  Charles  Sum 
merville,  as  to  enter  the  holy  estate  of  matrimony,  as  Edward  Lord 
Delmore." 

"  Why,  she  is  old  enough  to  be  my  mother !" 
"  She  says  you  attended   the  same  school  ;  that  you  were  her 
beau  ;  and  even  as  a  child  possessed  something  of  that  fascination 
as  a  lover,  which  has  rendered  you  so  dangerous  to  our  sex,  as  a 
man  for  the  last  twenty-five  years." 

Lord  Delmore  did  not  know  whether  to  be  pleased  or  angry,  the 
biting  sarcasm  of  her  words  being  so  modified  by  what  he  regarded 
a«  a  delicate  compliment. 

Before  he  could  reply,  the  venerable  Marquis  of  Hungerford  rode 
to  the  side  of  Katharine  Montague.  Her  look,  half  merry,  half 
defiant,  at  once  changed,  and  her  countenance  assumed  an  expres 
sion  of  the  most  deferential  regard. 

"  My  lord,  this  is  an  unexpected  honor,"  she  frankly  said,  re 
moving  her  glove,  and  pressing  his  shrivelled  hand  with  her  soft, 
taper  fingers. 

"  1  could  not  suffer  the  occasion  to  pass,  my  young  friend,  with 
out  witnessing  the  scene  over  which  I  understood  you  were  to  pre 
side.  I  thought  I  should  realize  again  something  of  the  poetry  of 
youth,  and  I  am  grateful  to  you  because  such  is  the  fact." 

*'  Oh,  thank  you,  I  can  assure  your  lordship  that  the  pleasure  is 
mutual,  for  to  be  honored  by  the  presence  of  one  so  celebrated  for 
every  quality  that  proclaims  a  man,  gives  me  no  ordinary  plea 
sure." 

Ths  marquis  bowed  profoundly.  The  attention  of  Katharine 
Montague  was  drawn  to  "  a  horseman  who  might  have  been  seen" 
riding  rapidly  towards  the  judges'  stand.  She  immediately  recog 
nized  the  dapple  gray,  and,  in  the  rider,  her  quondam  acquaintance 
Christie  Kane. 

The  young  man  rode  into  the  centre  of  the  group  of  competitors 
with  a  bearing  quite  as  lofty  as  the  most  imperious.  All  eyes  were 
turned  upon  him,  for  he  was  unknown,  except  to  Lord  Melville, 
whose  eyes  flashed  scornfully  as  he  recognized  the  "  country  beau 
of  Katharine  Montague." 

"  What  seek  you  here,  fellow?"  he  exclaimed,  fiercely. 
Kane  cast  a  glance  of  contempt  at  the  interrogator,  but  deigned 
no  other  reply.     Turning  to  the  judges,  he  said, 

"  I  come  to  enter  the  list  of  competitors  for  the  award  of  beau 
ty."  And  he  cast  a  furtive  look  at  Lady  Katharine,  whose  coun 
tenance  was  impassive. 

"  Why,  gentlemen,  he  is  my  father's  tenant ;  a  clodpole  by  the 
name  of  Christie  Kane,"  replied  Lord  Melville. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  C7 

"  And  does  that  deprive  ms  of  the  pleasure  this  day's  amusement 
must  afford  T'  said  Christie,  still  addressing  the  judges. 

"  That  depends  upon  circumstances,"  replied  one  of  them  ;  "  in 
your  case  it  probably  will." 

Katharine  Montague  looked  with  admiring  eyes  upon  the  splen 
did  animal  which  Kane  bestrode.  He  had  enabled  her  to  achieve 
a  triumph  over  Lord  Melville,  and  sh.3  felt  a  strong  desire  to  see 
the  dapple  gray  enter  the  lists. 

"  Why  in  my  case1?"  replied  Kane,  calmly. 

"  Because  by  the  rules  we  have  established,  no  person  under  the 
rank  of  a  baronet,  can  become  a  competitor  unless  he  is  allied  to  the 
nobility,  by  affinity  or  consanguinity,  within  the  sixth  degree." 

"That  I  am."' 

"How,  fellow?"  cried  Melville,  haughtily. 

"Who  can  prove  your  statement?"  asked  the  umpire. 

"The  word  of  a  man  of  honor  ought  to  be  sufficient." 

"  A  man  of  honor  ! — the  plebeian  a  man  of  honor  !"  retorted  Mel 
ville.  "  I  will  have  you  punished  for  this  insolence." 

"  If  no  one  will  vouch  for  you,  it  will  be  our  duty  to  exclude 
you,"  replied  the  judge. 

Lady  Katharine  Montague  was  in  the  act  of  addressing  the 
judges,  and  had  turned  her  horse  for  that  purpose,  when  the  clear, 
authoritative  voice  of  a  gentleman  in  the  undress  of  a  colonel  of 
infantry,  said, 

"  I  know  him ;  he  is  the  nephew  of  my  wife,  a  daughter  of  the 
DukeofRolIston." 

"  Ah  !  Colonel  Knowles,  your  word  is  sufficient,"  replied  the  ur 
bane  voice  of  the  oldest  judge  ;  "  the  young  man  may  enter  the 
lists." 

"Then  I  will  withdraw  from  them,"  said  Melville.  "  A  prize 
for  which  he  contends  cannot  be  worth  the  wearing." 

A  flash  of  indignation  overspread  the  face  of  Katharine  Mon 
tague,  which  was  succeeded  by  an  ashy  paleness. 

"  Come,  Melville,  you  are  wrong,"  replied  Lord  Delmore.  "  We 
will  have  the  satisfaction  of  showing  him  that  a  relationship  to  the 
well-born  by  affinity  merely,  will  not  enable  him  to  contend  suc 
cessfully  with  the  best  blood  of  England." 

"  He  shall  bitterly,  bitterly  regret  thrusting  himself  where  he  is 
known  only  to  be  despised." 

"  And,  Lord  Melville,  you,  too,  shall  pay  dearly  for  your  unman 
ly  taunts, "retorted  Christie  Kane,  haughtily. 

"  Gentlemen,  you  will  assuma  your  positions,"  said  the  judges. 

The  course  marked  out  for  the  horsemen  to  take  led  along  the 
level  plane  to  the  right  of  the  judges'  stand  for  one  fourth  of  a  mile, 
and  then  passed  through  an  open  wood,  the  "  underbrush"  from 
which  had  been  removed.  The  ground  sloped  gradually  through 
this  wood  ;  and  just  before  it  opened  into  the  valley,  the  horsemen 
could  not  be  seen  from  the  judges'  stand.  At  the  termination  of  the 
forest,  a  brook  wound  its  course,  the  banks  of  which  were  very 
abrupt.  Here  was  the  first  serious  obstruction  to  the  riders.  After 
passing  the  valley,  a  hedge,  five  feet  in  height,  crossed  the  course. 
This  presented  a  formidable  barrier,  because  the  ground  was  un- 


68  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

even  on  both  sides.  But  now  commenced  a  succession  of  rocky 
and  dangerous  hills,  and  hollows,  terminating  in  a  low  piece  of 
ground  tiiat  was  marshy  in  certain  places.  This  brought  them  to 
a  stream  whose  banks  were  separated  a  distance  of  nearly  twenty 
feet.  The  summit  of  each  shore  was  of  solid  earth,  yet  the  leap 
was  fearful.  The  river  at  that  point  flowed  in  the  direction  of  the 
judges'  stand,  so  that  it  was  in  plain  view  of  the  spectators  as 
sembled  upon  the  plateau.  A  succession  of  gentle  slopes  succeed 
ed,  until  the  course  led  to  the  foot  of  the  plateau,  when  a  formid 
able  hedge  and  ditch  crossed  the  way.  This  barrier  safely  passed, 
and  the  acclivity  of  the  hill  which  teminated  upon  the  plateau  was 
the  only  obstacle  to  be  surmounted  by  the  horsemen.  The  herald 
proclaimed  the  conditions  of  the  steeple-chase,  which  were,  that 
the  horseman  who  passed  around  the  course  between  the  flags,  and 
arrived  first  at  the  stand,  should  receive  the  prize  from  Lady  Kath- 
erine  Montague,  and  be  honored  with  her  hand  in  opening  the  ball 
that  night  at  Montague  Castle. 

Seventeen  horsemen  sat  upon  impatient  steeds  that  were  grind 
ing  their  bits  between  their  teeth  and  stamping  the  earth,  while  they 
shook  their  reins  and  occasionally  reared  in  the  air.  They  were  a 
splendid  collection  of  horses,  nearly  all  being  thorough-bred.  Not 
one  among  them  was  more  beautifully  formed  than  the  dapple  grey. 
Both  Surrey  and  his  rider  attracted  much  attention  in  their  humble 
position  upon  the  left,  and  slightly  in  the  rear  of  the  line  of  aris 
tocratic  horsemen. 

Christie  Kane  saw  in  that  vast  crowd  the  face  of  but  one  anxious 
friend,  and  that  was  Phelim  Savor's.  The  solicitude  which  was 
stamped  upon  the  features  of  the  honest  fellow,  strange  as  it  may 
appear,  reanimated  the  courage  and  the  hopes  of  the  young  man, 
as  he  sat  among  that  group,  the  only  untitled  competitor  for  the 
prize.  And  he  mentally  exclaimed — 

"  Do  not  doubt  me,  for  I  will  vindicate  the  claim  of  the  plebeian 
to  the  honors  of  tiie  day,  or  perish." 

The  bugle  gave  the  signal  ;  the  ground  trembled  beneath  the 
charge,  and  the  excited  spectators  breathed  more  freely.  Lord 
Melville  took  the  lead  as  they  descended  the  slope  through  the 
woods,  having,  in  the  impetuosity  of  his  feelings,  plunged  his  spurs 
into  the  flanks  of  his  horse.  Lord  Delmore  followed  next,  and 
Christie  Kane,  with  his  form  thrown  back  in  the  effort  to  check 
the  speed  of  his  horse,  brought  up  the  rear.  As  they  emerged 
from  the  bank  of  the  brook  which  we  have  described  as  flowing 
past  the  foot  of  the  declivity,  four  riderless  horses  dashed  across 
the  plain,  but  neither  of  them  was  the  dapple  grey.  As  the  horse 
men  reached  the  open  country,  and  approached  the  hedge,  their 
relative  positions  were  the  same. 

"  Neither  of  the  dismounted  horsemen  is  Melville,  for  there  he 
is,  nobly  leading  the  way,"  said  Lord  Rossmore.  "  I  am  afraid, 
Kate,  the  horse  with  whose  assistance  you  accomplished  a  triumph 
over  Melville  will  prove  less  successful  in  a  struggle  with  practiced 
thorough  breds.  See,  he  is  still  far  behind." 

"  But  four  miles  is  a  long  way,  and  they  have  not  accomplished 
a  fourth  of  the  distance.  My  noble  grey  may  yet  triumph." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  69 

The  earl  shook  his  head  incredulously.  They  approached  the 
hedge  and  Melville  gathered  the  legs  of  his  horse  well  under  him 
and  then  darted  at  the  barrier.  The  horse  passed  it  with  a  splen 
did  hound. 

"  Well  done,  Melville,"  said  the  Duke  of  Sunderland. 
r    "  Yes,  that  was  a  magnificent  leap,"  replied  Katharine  Monta 
gue,  approvingly. 

Lord  Delmore  came  next ;  his  horse  stumbled  upon  one  of  the 
hillocks,  and  his  rider  was  thrown  heavily  to  the  ground.  The  la 
dies  shuddered. 

"  A  few  more  such  falls  as  that,  and  Delmore's  bachelor  days 
will  be  over,"  said  the  Duke  of  Sunderland,  coolly. 

Only  eight  horses  passed  the  hedge  when  the  dapple  grey  ap 
proached.  With  a  tremendous  bound  he  cleared  the  barrier,  land 
ing  several  feet  beyond  it. 

"  By  the  memory  of  Queen  Bess,  but  that  was  splendidly  taken," 
said  the  Marquis  of  Hungerford,  enthusiastically.  The  dapple 
grey  swept  by  one  after  another  of  the  horsemen  until  only  two  led 
him.  They  crossed  the  uneven  part  of  the  course,  and  approached 
the  marsh.  Christie  Kane,  instead  of  attempting  to  pass  them, 
suffered  his  horse  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  Lord  Melville's,  be 
ing  convinced  that  his  lordship  had  often  examined  the  ground, 
while  he  had  never  crossed  it  before.  But  as  his  horse  reached 
the  plain  which  bordered  the  river,  for  the  first  time  he  gave  him  the 
reins.  His  powers  had  not  been  overtasked,  and  he  rapidly  ap 
proached  Lord  Melville  ;  the  head  of  the  dapple  grey  lapped  the 
the  quarter  of  the  leading  horse  ;  he  drewr  ahead  until,  as  they 
struck  the  bank  of  the  stream,  they  were  neck  and  neck.  It  was 
evident  the  riders  were  utterly  reckless,  for  they  made  no  attempt 
to  arrest  the  headlong  speed  of  their  horses.  As  they  sprang  from 
the  bank  with  fearful  bounds  a  thrill  of  awe  ran  through  the  frames 
of  the  stoutest  hearted.  A  moment  of  intense  anxiety  succeeded, 
while  the  noble  animals  swept  through  the  air.  It  was  succeeded 
by  prolonged  cheers  as  both  horses  alighted  upon  the  opposite  bank 
at  the  same  moment. 

"  Well  done  !  well  done  /"  exclaimed  the  Marquis  of  Hunger- 
ford,  as  he  waved  his  hat  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment.  "  He 
is  a  splendid  rider,  if  he  is  a  plebeian." 

Katharine  Montague  did  not  reply,  but  she  eagerly  watched  the 
progress  of  the  headmost  horsemen.  Sir  Edward  Donnelly,  who 
next  approached  the  stream,  did  so  more  cautiously.  His  horse 
made  a  gallant  attempt  to  pass  it,  but  his  strength  failed  him,  his 
fore  feet  struck  the  bank,  and  he  rolled  backward  into  the  water. 
The  next  horse  shared  the  same  fate,  and  warned  by  their  fate  the 
other  competitors  drew  up  their  steeds  upon  the  bank  and  watched 
the  progress  of  the  two  horsemen  who  alone  now  contended  for 
victory.  And  it  was  a  matter  of  doubt  which  must  triumph,  for  a 
blanket  would  have  covered  them  as  they  crossed  the  plain  between 
the  river  and  the  inequalities  that  grooved  the  land  at  the  base  of 
the  acclivity.  The  excitement  became  intense  as  they  ascended 
and  descended  hills,  and  bounded  across  chasms.  Quick,  almost, 
as  thought,  the  panting  steeds  reached  the  formidable  hedge  and 


70  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

ditch  that  now  presented  the  only  obstacle  that  intervened  hetween 
them  and  the  termination  of  the  course.  Christie  Kane  checked 
the  speed  of  Surrey  so  as  to  approach  the  hedge  cautiously.  Lord 
Melville  followed  his  example.  Both  riders  reached,  the  barrier 
with  frowning  brows  and  set  teeth.  For  the  first  time  Christie  ap 
plied  the  spur  to  the  flank  of  Surrey.  With  an  angry  snort  he 
cleared  the  hedge  and  landed  upon  the  solid  earth  beyond  the  ditch, 
and  then  gallantly  dashed  up  the  hill.  Lord  Melville  also  passed 
the  barrier  at  the  same  moment.  Cheer  after  cheer  rewarded  these 
splendid  efforts,  and  upon  the  brow  of  the  plateau  could  be  seen  a 
long  line  of  waving  hats  and  handkerchiefs.  Katharine  Montague 
alone  sat  apparently  unmoved,  upon  her  white  steed,  but  excitement 
was  perceptible  in  her  dark  blue  eyes. 

"  Magnificently  done,"  said  the  Marquis  of  Hungerford,  as  he 
re-covered  his  silvery  hair  with  his  hat. 

With  the  last  great  effort  of  passing  the  hedge  and  ditch,  the 
powers  of  Melville's  horse  were  exhausted  ;  from  that  moment 
the  dapple-grey  slowly  left  him,  and  Christie  Kane  arrived  at  the 
judge's  stand  a  dozen  yards  ahead. 

The  nobility  received  the  victor  with  faint  praises,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  the  Marquis  of  Hungerford  and  Lord  Rossmore,  whose 
magnanimity  rose  above  the  pride  of  caste,  but  the  humbler  por 
tion  of  the  spectators  were  vociferous  in  their  demonstrations  of 

joy. 

A  solitary  figure  emerged  from  their  midst,  and  regardless  of 
the  distinguished  presence  in  which  he  found  himself,  threw  his 
arms  around  the  neck  of  the  panting  Surrey. 

|:  ."  Och  !  but  this  is  the  blissedest  day  of  me  whole  life.  Surrey. 
Surrey!  its  mesel  know'd  you  would  bate  every  mother's  son  of 
thim,  an'  now  yez  hiv  jist  done  it,  an'  so  beautifully."  And  the 
happy  fellow  stroked  the  arched  neck  of  the  dapple-grey,  while 
the  tears  ran  down  his  cheeks. 

Christie  dismounted,  and  delivered  his  horse  into  the  charge  of 
Phelim  Savor,  to  be  led  away — surrounded  by  the  admiring  but 
humble  portion  of  the  spectators. 

The  young  man  was  conducted  by  one  of  the  Heralds  to  the 
side  of  Katherine  Montague's  horse,  and  bowing,  while  his  face 
was  covered  with  a  deep  crimson,  awaited  his  award. 

Her  voice  was  steady  and  musical  as  she  said  : 

"  Mr  Kane,  you  have  contended  successfully  for  the  prize  which 
I  have  been  selected  to  award  to  the  victor  in  the  hazardous,  but 
manly  amusement  of  the  steeple-chase.  By  your  boldness  and 
skill  as  a  horseman,  aided  by  the  splendid  qualities  of  your  magni 
ficent  steed,  you  deserve  the  reward  which  I  now  bestow." 

Bending  forward,  she  placed  the  ribbon,  elegantly  embroidered 
by  her  own  hands,  and  to  which  a  gold  medal  was  attached,  upon 
his  neck.  For  a  moment  his  eyes  met  her  own,  as  he  raised  his 
head.  He  spoke  not,  but  their  eloquent  glance  betrayed  the  emo 
tions  of  his  heart. 

Having  performed  her  duty,  she  lightly  touched  her  horse,  without 
further  noticing  the  humble  victor,  and  led  the  way  to  Montague 
Castle. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  71 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"  And  thus  I  clothe  my  naked  villainy 

"With  old  odd  ends,  stol'n  forth  of  holy  writ ; 

And  seem  a  saint  when  most  I  play  the  devil." — SHAKESPEARE. 

IT  is  impossible  to  describe  the  agony  of  mind  experienced  by 
Mrs.  Kane,  when  her  husband  did  not  return  at,  the  time  she  ex 
pected  him.  She  did  not  close  her  eyes  during  the  long  hours  of 
the  night.  She  started  early  in  the  morning  for  Martin  Lsnnon's, 
with  the  faint  hope  that  he  might  still  be  there.  She  was  doomed 
to  disappointment.  A  visit  to  Hogan's  was  alike  unsuccessful. 
The  most  rigid  search  was  instituted  by  her  humble  friends,  and 
even  the  police,  as  is  unusually  the  case,  with  that  self-sufficient  and 
independent  fraternity,  promised  to  rectify  an  evil  they  ought  to 
have  prevented.  But  they  meant  nothing  by  their  promises,  for 
like  all  idle  words,  they  coat  them  nothing.  Mrs.  Kane  could  not 
promise  a  reward  to  stimulate  their  sense  of  duty,  or  what  is  of 
far  greater  importance,  their  vigilance  was  not  aroused  by  having 
a  bribe  placed  in  their  hands.  It  is  amusing  to  see  with  what  com 
placency  these  gentry  pocket  rewards  for  the  recovery  of  articles, 
when  they  are  employed  to  prevent  the  thief  from  stealing  them. 
When  an  amount  sufficiently  valuable  is  stolen  to  justify  the  offer 
of  a  liberal  reward,  the  property  is  often  recovered,  a  consumma 
tion  that  seldom  gratifies  the  sufferer  who  cannot  arouse  the  cu 
pidity  of  our  "  guardians"'  by  the  tender  of  money.  Nothing  has 
such  a  magical  effect  in  impressing  upon  the  minds  of  these  worthies 
the  absolute  necessity  of  maintaining  justice  in  all  its  purity,  as 
a  liberal  bribe,  slily  thrust  into  their  hands,  when  no  one  can  ob 
serve  the  delicate  operation. 

The  machinery  of  justice  runs  much  better  on  gold,  and  if  the 
reader  doubts  it,  let  him  make  the  experiment,  not  only  in  England 
but  in  any  other  corner  of  the  earth,  where  he  may  require  the  ser 
vices  of  the  police.  But  there  is  one  condition  which  must  not  be 
forgotten,  the  tender  must  be  made  in  private,  as  their  sense  of  duty 
and  propriety  would  be  outraged  provided  a  third  person  should 
witness  an  open  assault  upon  their  virtue.  This  makes  all  the  dif 
ference  in  the  world,  as  any  one  will  discover  by  the  angry  rebuff 
he  will  receive  provided  he  thoughtlessly  tenders  money  before 
folks  to  an  individual  who  would  take  it  without  the  slightest 
qualms  of  conscience  ;  under  the  very  different  circumstance,  how 
ever,  of  there  being  no  witnesses  present.  The  efficacy  of  the 
bribe  depends  upon  secresy  ;  and  there  is  a  manifest  propriety  in 
the  fact,  because  the  goddess  of  justice  is  represented  as  being 
blind  ;  and  what  is  unnecessary  for  her  to  see,  the  agents  of  her 
will  should  not  of  course  be  required  to  divulge  to  the  gossiping 
multitude. 
g  iHogan  thinking  himself  not  altogether  blameless,  although  his 


72  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

intentions  were  honest,  with  what  money  he  could  command  sought 
the  presence  of  one  of  those  Bow-street  officers  who  are  so  often 
employed  by  persons  who  can  "  bleed"  well.  It  was  with  many 
misgivings  that  he  ventured  into  the  presence  of  the  renowned 
officer,  painfully  conscious  that  his  rough  garb  was  not  in  keeping 
with  the  place.  The  officer  looked  at  him  from  behind  his  specta 
cles  with  a  suspicious  glance,  and  Hogan  involuntarily  trembled 
for  fear  some  rascality,  unknown  to  himself,  would  be  ferreted  out 
by  the  most  celebrated  of  the  detective  police.  He  could  not  rally 
his  thoughts,  so  thoroughly  had  the  officer  confused  him.  There 
was  something  about  him  strangely  inconsistent.  His  form  was 
stout,  even  corpulent,  and  when  Hogan  looked  at  that  he  thought 
the  mind  which  controlled  it  must  be  frank,  if  not  jolly.  He  verily 
believed  that  it  would  not  be  too  much  to  attribute  downright  jol 
lity  to  such  a  rotund  figure.  But  when  he  encountered  the  piercing 
gaze  of  those  coal-black  eyes,  he  doubted  if  the  figure  had  ever 
felt  the  luxury  of  one  good,  hearty  laugh. 

';  Well,"  grunted,  rather  than  spoke,  the  officer. 

Hogan  was  certain  he  had  unconsciously  been  guilty  of  some 
monstrous  rascality,  and  that,  from  behind  those  spectacles,  there 
was  being  taken  a  detailed  account  of  the  whole  transaction. 

"  Weil !"  more  loudly  grunted  the  voice. 

Aroused  to  a  pitch  of  desperation,  Hogan  muttered — 

"  I  never — done  any  thing  of  the  kind — " 

"  Are  you  certain  ?"  thundered  the  other. 

"  At  least  not  that  1  know  of.  It  must  have  been  some  other,  or 
I  did  it  in  my  sleep." 

"  What  do  you  want  then  ?"  responded  the  officer,  with  a  rumb 
ling  kind  of  a  laugh  at  the  effect  produced  by  his  glance. 

"  I  come  to  see  if  you  would  undertake  a  little  matter  for  me, 
and  I  brung  some  money  to  pay  any  expenses  that  might — if  there 
be  any—" 

He  took  from  his  pocket  a  handful  of  coin,  among  which  there 
could  be  discovered  only  one  piece  of  gold. 

"  How  dare  you  think  of  bribing  one  of  her  Majesty's  executive 
officers  ?" 

"  With  such  a  paltry  sum,"  distinctly  whispered  a  voice. 

The  policeman  frowned,  and  Hogan  looked  furtively  about  with 
out  being  able  to  ascertain  from  whence  the  voice  proceeded. 

"  If  I  could  have — brought — more  I  would  have  done  so — "  he 
faltered. 

"  Silence  !  Here,  Fizgig,  see  what  you  can  do  for  this  fellow. 
Are  you  positive,  sirrah,  that  you  were  not,  at  least,  an  accessory 
before  the  fact  in  the  murder  case  ?" 

"  Never  !  sir,  never  !" 

"  Then  begone  ;  but  if  I  ever  set  eyes  upon  you  again  I  shall 
be  sure  to  think  you  were  an  accessory  either  before  or  after  the 
fact." 

Hogan  found  himself  in  the  presence  of  Fizgig.  That  individual 
received  him  blandly,  and  Hogan  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
had  found  the  right  person,  and  his  supposition  was  true,  for  Mr. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  73 

Fizgig-  had  only  acquired  sufficient  reputation  to  justify  any  one  in 
bribing  him,  unless  he  belonged  to  Hogan's  class  in  society. 

Mr.  Fizgig  received  him  blandly,  but  it  was  a  cool  bland  ness, 
that  could  be  either  softened  or  hardened  as  pecuniary  considera 
tions  might  justify. 

Hogan  began  his  negotiations  by  drawing  forth  his  small  store. 
The  sharp  eyes  of  the  policeman  saw  nothing  but  copper  coin, 
here  and  there  set  off  by  a  piece  of  silver,  that  varied  in  amount 
from  a  sixpence  to  a  crown.  The  face  of  the  officer  said  as 
plainly  as  words  could  have  expressed  it, 

"  Your  case,  my  dear  fellow,  is  utterly  hopeless." 
But  Hogan,  not  being  skilful  at  translating  the  shades  and  lines 
of  the  human  countenance  into  words,  proceeded  to  unfold  his 
wishes,  backing  up  his  solicitation  for  aid  by  turning  over  the  coins 
in  his  hand  so  as  to  make  as  great  a  display  as  possible  of  the  sil 
ver  pieces  aforesaid. 

The  blandness  of  the  policeman  stiffened  very  perceptibly  as  he 
replied, 

I  fear  there  is  no  hope  for  your  friend.  He  has  doubtless  been 
arrested  by  the  press-gang,  and  it  is  with  great  difficulty  that  we 
can  rescue  him,  even  if  they  have  not  taken  him  from  their  haunts 
on  board  a  government  vessel.  Besides,  an  attempt  would  put 
me  to  very  great  trouble  and  expense." 

The  blandness  of  the  officer  became  as  stiff  as  buckram  while  he 
cast  a  contemptuous  glance  at  the  copper  and  silver  which  Hogan, 
instead  of  continuing  ostentatiously  to  display,  now  sought  to  con 
ceal  with  both  hands,  as  though  he  had  been  guilty  of  stealing  it. 

But  a  sudden  light  broke  upon  his  mind ;  he  had  not  offered 
enough  to  stimulate  the  confidence  of  the  officer  in  the  success  of 
the  undertaking  or  the  justice  of  his  cause.  He  thrust  his  hand 
again  into  his  pocket,  and  ushered  into  the  light  a  bricrht  yellow 
piece. 

The  starch  disappeared  from  the  blandness  of  the  policeman  like 
snow  before  the  warm  sun.  In  fact,  it  wilted  right  down  into  the 
most  affable  complaisance.  He  was  happy  in  his  mental  confor 
mation,  was  Mr.  Fizgig,  for  his  good  nature  possessed  a  sliding 
scale  that  was  capable  of  expressing  either  the  most  insinuating 
regard  or  the  most  frigid  politeness. 

"  1  expected,  of  course,  to  remunerate  you  for  all  your  trouble, 
but  as  you  think  there  is  no  hope — " 

I  trust  you  will  excuse  me  for  saying  you  slightly,  very  slight 
ly  misunderstood  me  ;  a  misapprehension  that  was  doubtless  owing 
more  to  the  want  of  copiousness  and  flexibility  in  the  English  lan 
guage,  than  to  any  fault  of  mine  or  your  own." 

Hogan  jstared  at  Fizgig  as  though  he  did  not  exactly  compre 
hend  him.  The  officer  paused  with  a  smiling  countenance,  to  give 
him  an  opportunity  of  making  a  further  demonstration  ;  but  Hogan 
suffered  the  money,  gold  and  all,  to  slide  into  his  right-hand  pocket, 
for  that  was  his  treasury  ;  the  other  being  devoted  to  his  knife  and 
tobacco. 

*'  I  am  sorry  the  prospects  of  my  friend  are  so  gloomy,  but  if  it 
can't  be  helped,  it  can't,  that's  all.  Good  morning." 


71  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

• 

The  affability  of  Mr.  Fizgig  took  another  slide,  as  the  prospect 
of  obtaining  the  money,  especially  the  sovereign,  diminished. 

"  My  language  must  have  been  unfortunate,  indeed,  if  it  led  you 
to  suppose  that  your  friend's — your  insulted  friend's — case  is  hope 
less.  Nothing  was  farther  from  my  intention.  The  exertions  of 
so  generous  a  person  as  you  are  willing  to  prove  yourself,  ought 
not,  I  may  say,  must  not,  be  unavailing." 

Hogan  began  shrewdly  to  doubt  the  good  faith  of  the  officer,  and 
he  therefore  buttoned  up  his  pocket  as  he  said, 

"  I  tell  you  what,  Mr.  Fizgig,  I'm  a  poor  man,  but  I  would  spend 
all  my  money  to  rescue  Robert  Kane,  because,  you  see,  he  has 
done  me  a  good  turn  afore  now,  and  he  is  an  honest,  hard-working 
fellow,  with  a  family  dependant  upon  him  ;  and  there's  no  saying, 
how  soon  I  may  want  him  to  keep  a  fatherly  eye  upon  my  own  lit 
tle  children.  Now,  Mr.  Fizgig,  if  you  will  produce  Robert  Kane 
to  me,  face  to  face,  I  will  give  you  all  the  money  I  have  here,  and 
as  much  again,  besides." 

Fizgig  suffered  a  starchy  laugh  to  escape  from  his  thin  lips. 
"  You  are  too  kind,  Mr.  Hogan,  but  we  like  to  have  these  trifles 
arranged  beforehand,  you  know,-  to  prevent  it  from  escaping  our 
recollection  ;  a  mere  matter  of  form,  you  will  bear  that  in  mind, 
Mr.  Hogan." 

"  My  memory  is  likely  to  be  quite  as  good  as  yours.  Not  a 
penny  will  I  pay  till  I  see  Robert  Kane."  And  with  something 
of  the  sturdiness  of  the  old  English  character,  Hogan  set  his  hat 
firmly  upon  his  head. 

Mr.  Fizgig's  blandness  underwent  another  change  ;  for  the  at 
mosphere  of  London  is  not  susceptible  of  more  frequent  variations 
than  was  the  humor  of  Theophilus  Fizgig. 
"  Do  you  agree  to  my  terms  ?" 
"  You  are  pleased  to  be  facetious." 
•<;You  refuse  ?" 
"Can  you  doubt  it?" 

For  the  first  time  the  smile  of  Mr.  Fizgig  looked  spiteful,  yet  it 
was  so  blended  with  a  not  unpleasant  grin,  that  Hogan  was  for  a 
moment  doubtful  whether  he  had  interpreted  it  correctly  ;  but  he 
was  then  satisfied,  and  involuntarily  his  fists  doubled. 

"  I  thought  any  one  who  would  suffer  himself  bribed,  must,  in 
the  end,  turn  out  to  be  an  infernal  scoundrel,  and  now  I'm  certain 
of  it.  An'  yer  all  alike  too,  the  fat  devil  in  there,  whose  eyes  makes 
one  think  he's  a  villain  when  he  is  not ;  an'  yer  own  smooth,  de 
ceitful  manner,  that  leads  one  to  believe  he's  an  honest  man,  when 
he  may  be  just  as  far  from  the  truth.  The  only  difference  is  that 
you  are  a  cheaper  rascal  than  him.  Out  upon  ye  all  for  a  set  of 
thieves." 

"  Mr.  Hogan,  you  will  please  to  recollect  that  you  have  been 
aspersing  the  honest  and  faithful  officers  of  the  realm,"  said  Mr. 
Fizgig  in  a  soft  voice. 

*'  Honest  and  faithful  !"  retorted  the  other  scornfully. 
"And  that  severe  and  condign  punishment  awaits  all  such  disre 
spectful  and  contumacious  individuals." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  B 

"  Is  that  person  here  yet  ?"  exclaimed  the  officer  with  the  spec 
tacles,  throwing  open  the  door  of  the  adjoining  room. 

"  Yes,"  responded  Fizgig. 

"  Well,  if  he  is  to  be  found  here  in  one  minute  from  this  time 
I  will  have  him  arrested,  not  as  an  accessory,  but  as  a  principal  in 
the—" 

Hogan  waited  neither  for  the  minute  to  expire,  nor  for  the  po 
liceman  to  finish  his  sentence,  but  moved  with  great  vivacity  to 
wards  the  door,  muttering,  with  dissatisfied  earnestness,  as  he  put 
that  barrier  between  himself  and  the  eyes  that  made  him  so  nerv 
ous,  "  I'm  damned  if  I  aint  afraid  of  that  cuss." 

Every  attempt  made  to  find  Robert  Kane  proved  unavailing  ;  and 
at  the  end  of  a  week  the  painful  truth  was  ineifaceably  impressed 
upon  Mary's  mind  that  she  should  never  see  him  again.  The  money 
he  had  obtained  from  Hogan  he  thoughtlessly  took  with  him  on  that 
fatal  night,  and  she  was  now  penniless.  It  is  true,  Hogan  insisted 
she  should  accept  the  small  amount  he  intended  to  expend  in  search 
ing  for  her  husband  ;  but  that  sum  would  soon  be  gone,  and  even 
if  he  was  inclined  to  aid  her  further,  he  would  not  have  the  power, 
for  his  own  family  entirely  depended  upon  him  for  support.  Great 
as  were  her  trials,  the  spirit  of  the  noble  woman  was  not  crushed. 
Happiness,  it  is  true,  had  taken  its  departure  ;  but  that  unfaltering 
and  holy  love  which  a  mother  feels  for  her  offspring,  especially 
when  they  are  threatened  with  danger,  now  exhibited  its  powrer. 
They  would  soon  cry  for  bread,  and  she  could  not — oh  !  she  could 
not  let  them  starve  ! 

Dolly  hourly  asked  for  her  father,  unconscious  of  the  tears  that 
her  mother  often  turned  her  head  to  wipe  away.  Almost  from  the 
moment  of  their  misfortune,  Henry  had  become  apprised  of  their 
loss,  and  with  a  sad  face  wandered  about  trying  his  best,  but  unsuc 
cessfully,  to  let  his  mother  see  that  he  would  be  a  little  man. 

A  week  after  the  disappearance  of  Robert  Kane,  they  were  in 
the  room  together,  about  the  time  when  he  used  to  return.  Mrs. 
Kane  was  rocking  the  cradle,  in  which  the  baby,  at  an  earlier  hour 
than  usual,  had  Nestled  herself  to  sleep.  Her  features  were  much 
paler  and  thinner  than  when  the  reader  last  saw  her.  It  was  ap 
parent  that  she  had  quaffed  the  cup  of  misery  deeply  ;  and  yet  her 
eyes  beamed  with  devotion  as  they  rested  upon  her  children — his 
children.  Doily  was  humming  a  tune  her  father  had  taught  her  a 
few  weeks  before  as  she  put  her  doll  to  sleep.  Henry  stood  by  the 
window  leaning  his  head  against  a  pane  of  glass,  as  he  was  wont 
to  do,  while  watching  for  the  welcome  wave  of  his  father's  hand  as 
he  turned  the  corner  of  the  street.  The  big  tears  were  rolling 
down  his  cheeks,  while  a  suppressed  sob,  in  spite  of  himself,  occa 
sionally  reached  his  mother's  ear.  It  became  darker  and  darker, 
but  still  no  father  appeared.  Every  body  else  passed  by  that  he 
had  ever  seen  before  ;  but  the  one  whose  approach  would  have  sent 
an  indescribable  gush  of  joy  through  the  hearts  of  that  family,  was 
still  absent.  It  was  too  much  for  the  little  fellow  ;  and  throwing 
himself  upon  the  bed,  he  wept  long  and  bitterly. 

"  Poor  child."  said  Mary,  as  she  parted  the  hair  upon  his  fore 
head  and  kissed  it. 


76  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

With  a  heroic  effort  he  closed  the  fountains  of  his  grief,  and, 
taking  his  mother's  hand,  looked  anxiously  into  her  face. 

"  Ma,  we  have  no  one  to  give  us  money,  now  father  is  gone." 

She  shook  her  head  despondingly. 

"  And  we  cannot  get  bread  without  money." 

"  No,  dear." 

"  And  without  something  to  eat,  you,  and  sis,  and  I  would  starve  ; 
and  Frank  Tot,  too,  for  I  heard  father  tell  you  to  eat  a  good  deal, 
or  you  would  not  have  enough  milk  for  Tot." 

Mrs.  Kane  was  visibly  affected,  in  spite  of  herself. 

"  I  diddent  mean  to  make  you  cry,  ma ;  only  I  thought  I  should 
like  to  know  what  we  are  to  do  to  keep  from  starving." 

"  God  only  knows,  Henry." 

"  But  if  God  knows,  what  good  is  that  going  to  do  us ;  he  don't 
give  people  manna  now,  does  he?" 

"  No." 

"  Well,  if  neither  God  nor  any  body  else  is  going  to  help  us, 
mussen't  we  help  ourselves  ?" 

"  God  sometimes  extends  aid  to  the  unfortunate,  with  an  unseen 
hand." 

Henry  pondered  upon  these  words. 

"  Mother,  I  am  hungry  now  ;  and  do  you  think,  if  we  get  no  as 
sistance  from  heaven  by  to-morrow  morning,  it  would  be  any  harm 
to  help  ourselves?" 

"What  do  you  mean  by  helping  ourselves?" 

"  Take  bread  from  the  baker,  and  meat  from  the  butcher." 

"  Why,  that  would  be  stealing." 

"  If  it  is  only  to  keep  us  from  dying  ?" 

'*  That  makes  no  difference." 

"But  are  we  not  God's  creatures  V1 

"Yes." 

"  Does  it  make  him  happy  to  see  Frank  Tot  hungry  ?" 

"  No,  he  is  a  kind  and  merciful  being,  and  the  happiness  he  des 
tined  for  his  children  has  been  destroyed  by  the  nobility  arid 
aristocracy  of  England,  who  appropriate  that  which  would  other 
wise  keep  us  from  suffering,  for  the  purpose  of  gratifying  their 
own  caprices." 

Why  does  he  let  them  act  so  wickedly  ?" 
Because  the  human  family  are  free  agents." 
What  is  that  ?" 

'They  have  the  right— no,  the  power  of  doing  as  they  please." 

*  Then  it  will  please  me  to  steal  some  bread  and  meat,"  he  an 
swered,  promptly  ;  "  to  keep  us  all  from  being  so  very  hungry." 

Mrs.  Kane  was  puzzled,  for  she  saw  her  explanation  was  some 
how  or  other,  incorrect. 

"  Perhaps  my  answer  was  not  right,  Henry  ;  I  believe  the  mul 
titude — the  nation,  possesses  the  power  of  doing  as  it  pleases,  but 
that  individuals  are  restrained  by  laws." 

"  If  the  nation,  which  must  mean  the  English  people,  have  the 
power  of  doing  as  they  please,  why  don't  they  make  the  rich  a 
little  less  happy,  and  the  poor  a  little  less  miserable  ?"„ 

"How?" 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  77 

"  Why,  by  giving  the  rich  money  enough  to  buy  chickens,  and 
game,  and  turkeys,  and  geese,  and  cakes,  and  wine,  and  ever  so 
many  good  things,  and  let  the  poor  people  keep  enough  to  buy 
coarse  bread,  and  the  cheapest  and  toughest  kinds  of  beef,  most  as 
good  as  the  nobility  give  their  dogs ;  would  that  be  unreasonable, 
ma?" 

"No." 

"  Well  then,  why  don't  they  do  it?"  he  exclaimed,  impatiently. 

"  Because  those  most  interested  in  keeping  things  as  they  are, 
have  induced  the  majority  to  believe  that  it  is  all  right." 

"  What,  them  with  empty  stomachs  ?" 

"Yes,  even  some  of  them,  I  believe." 

"  Then  they  have  no  brother,  or  sister,  or  mother,  to  pity  when 
they  hear  them  cry  for  bread." 

"  There  are  not  many,  probably,  who  can  make  themselves 
happy  while  they  endure  pinching  want,  but  others,  who  gain  a 
precarious  subsistence,  prefer  the  evils  that  are  not  quite  intolerable, 
to  the  certainty  of  death  or  transportation  if  they  attempt  to  uproot 
the  despotism  which  is  so  strongly  protected  by  those  whose  in 
terest  it  is,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  to  defend  it." 

Henry  reflected  upon  this  answer,  while  his  mother  placed  half 
of  the  pittance  left  in  the  house  upon  the  table.  At  length  his  face 
brightened. 

"  Ma  !  ma !  oh  !  I've  got  it,  I've  got  it !" 

"  What,  my  child  1" 

"  The  plan  to  relieve  us.  I'm  so  happy.  Tot  won't  look  so 
pale  to-morrow  night;  none  of  us  will  be  hungry  then.  Ha!  ha! 
why  didn't  I  think  of  it  before  ?" 

"Hush  !  Henry,  you  are  crazy  !" 

"  No  I  ain't,  ma,  Fm  only  very  happy,  that's  all.  You  see  this 
is  it,"  he  continued,  with  a  look  of  immense  importance  ;  "  I  went 
t'other  day  up  into  Dexeter  Hall,  with  another  boy,  Bill  Wilson, 
and  we  sat  down,  way  far  back  and  listened.  There  were  ever  so 
many  kind,  good  natured  people  in  that  great  big  Hall.  They 
seemed  all  pious  persons  too,  for  they  wore  white  cravats,  and  they 
had  such  sweet  amiable  faces  ;  and  they  were  such  charitable  men 
and  women  too,  for  there  were  a  great  many  women  in  the  Hall — 
Dexeter  Hall.  Well,  one  of  the  most  pious  looking  among  the  men, 
with  long  white  hair,  and  such  a  good  face,  stood  up  and  com 
menced  speaking.  He  told  them  how  degraded  were  the  negroes 
in  America,  and  his  voice  was  so  tender,  and  he  told  so  many  stories 
of  how  the  slaves  were  whipped  and  beat,  that  nearly  all  the  men 
and  women  cried,  and  Bill  Wilson  and  I  cried  too.  And  then 
another  man  got  up  and  said  they  had  collected,  I  don't  know  how 
much,  but  whole  oceans  of  money,  for  the  purpose  of  sending  it  to 
America,  and  the  people  clapped  their  hands,  as  I  do  when  I  want 
to  amuse  Frank  Tot,  and  Bill  Wilson  and  I  clapped  our  hands 
too,  for  it  seemed  to  make  the  speaker  happy,  and  we  thought  such 
a  good  man  ought  to  be  made  happy.  And  then  they  agreed  to 
send  all  this  money  to  liberate  the  poor  slaves.  They  were  not 
decked  out  in  silks  and  ruffles,  them  good  people  wasn't.  Their 
clothing  seemed  to  be  rich  enough,  but  they  was  cut  plain,  and 


78  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

Bill  Wilson  said  he  knew  some  of  them  were  economical,  and 
wanted  to  save  as  much  as  they  could,  to  send  to  the  slaves,  for 
they  wore  broad  brimmed  hats,  to  keep  off  the  rain,  so  tiiey  would 
not  have  to  buy  any  umbrellas." 

"  Well,  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  our  situation  ?" 

"  Why,  don't  you  see,  ma  ?  You  must  go  up  to  Dexeter  Hall  to 
morrow,  for  I  heard  them  say  they  would  meet  there  again  to 
morrow,  and  you  must  tell  them  you  have  three  children,  who 
would  work  their  fingers  off  to  get  bread  for  you,  if  they  were  old 
enough,  but  that  they  ain't.  Tell  them  father  has  been  stolen  and 
carried  off  to  fight;  that  he  may  be  killed,"  and  the  tears  gathered 
in  his  eyes,  and  his  lip  quivered — "  and — and — that  we  shall  starve 
to  death  unless  they  give  us  a  little  bit,  only  a  little  bit  of  that 
money  they  are  going  to  send  to  America." 

"  And  do  you  suppose  they  would  give  me  a  penny  ?" 

"  Yes,  wouldn't  they?" 

"  Not  if  it  was  to  save  us  all  from  starvation." 

The  boy  was  appalled  ;  his  bright  hopes  were  instantly  dashed  to 
the  ground. 

"  But  ma,  they  said  they  were  going  to  send  away  all  that  money 
for  charitable  purposes.  Do  they  know  there  is  any  need  for  char 
ity  here  ?" 

"  As  well  as  you  and  I  do." 

"  Then  their  bible  is  not  like  ours,  for  that  says  charity  begin- 
neth  at  home." 

"  It  is  precisely  the  same." 

Henry  seated  himself,  and  crossing  his  legs,  tried  to  divine  the 
cause  of  this  inconsistency.  But  apparently  his  efforts  were  un 
successful,  for  he  again  leaned  his  arms  upon  his  mother's  lap. 

"  If  they  know  there  is  need  of  charity  here,  why  don't — they — 
they—"  " 

"  I'll  tell  you  why  they  seek  distant  objdtts  upon  which  to  be 
stow  their  alms.  It  is  because  they  obtain  more  notoriety  by  doing 
so." 

"  What  is  notoriety  ?" 

"  It  is  getting  their  names  frequently  in  the  papers,  so  that  the 
world  may  talk  about  their  generosity  and  goodness." 

"  But  you  must  tell  them  that  the  bible  says  the  left  hand  must 
not  know  what  the  right  hand  giveth." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  would  be  the  most  unpleasant  thing  I  could 
say  to  them.  You  must  think  of  some  other  method  of  obtaining 
money,  Henry,  for  an  application  at  Dexeter  Hall  would  be  una° 
vailing.  But  it  is  time  for  you  to  go  to  sleep  now." 

Henry  lay  awake  a  long  time,  and  the  result  of  his  reflections 
was  a  determination  to  go  to  Dexeter  Hall  himself  the  next  day, 
in  the  hope  that  his  mother  had  been  misinformed  as  to  the  charac 
ter  of  those  pious  and  charitable  looking  men,  who  had  made  such 
a  powerful  impression  upon  his  mind. 

After  breakfast  he  told  his  mother  he  would  go  out  a  short  time, 
and  having  found  Bill  Wilson,  they  proceeded  towards  Dexeter 
Hall— that  renowned  building,  within  whose  walls  cant  and  hypoc 
risy  hold  their  court — where  the  meek  and  truly  charitable  spirit 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  79 

of  the  Redeemer  seldom  finds  an  entrance,  and  then  only  to  be 
grieved  by  the  unblushing  effrontery  with  which  miscreants  seek  to 
cloak  their  impure  and  unholy  ambition  with  its  spotless  and  divine 
character. 

Turning  into  a  thronged  street,  their  progress  was  slower  than 
suited  the  excited  feelings  of  Henry  Kane. 

'"  Let  us  get  into  the  next  street,  Bill." 

"  Oh  no,  this  is  so  bustling  and  gay,  I  like  it  best." 

'*  But  it  will  be  so  long  before  we  get  there,"  pursued  Henry,  as 
he  turned  his  head  first  on  one  side  and  then  another,  in  the  hope  of 
finding  some  opening  in  the  crowd. 

"  Them  long-winded  chaps  take  a  good  deal  of  time  to  pray  up 
in  old  Dexeter,  which  is  very  kind  of  them,  considerin'  how  much 
better  they  all  are  than  anybody  else  ;  and  besides,  we  shall  be  sure 
to  see  somebody  punch  somebody  else's  head  this  morning,  the 
street  is  so  crowded  ;"  and  William  Wilson  looked  up  and  down 
the  street  to  see  if  the  hackmen,  carmen,  and  omnibus  drivers  would 
not  emphasize  the  gesticulations  they  were  favoring  the  air  with  by 
a  few  blows  administered  with  an  earnestness  indicative  of  a  su 
perabundance  of  bile  and  a  hearty  good  will.  His  expectations 
were  gratified,  for  there  were  unmistakable  signs  of  a  difficulty  at 
the  knot  of  drays,  carriages,  and  stages  that  seemed  to  be  inextri 
cably  wedged  together  at  the  corner  of  the  street.  The  belliger 
ents  were  favored  with  an  impromptu  and  more  attentive  audience 
than  generally  rewards  a  dull  lawyer  or  a  stupid  preacher. 

"  Here's  a  good  place,  Henry,"  said  Bill,  as  he  scrambled  up  a 
tree;  "a  capital — place — can  see — it — all."  He  made  a  paren 
thesis  at  each  hitch,  and  a  rent,  likewise,  in  his  pantaloons,  that 
could  already  boast  of  as  many  colorjs  as  the  garment  which  exci 
ted  the  virtuous  indignation  of  Joseph's  brethren.  But  William  at 
last  reached  a  knot  upon  the  tree  whose  unaccommodating  outlines 
forced  him  to  change  the  local  part  that  was  submitted  to  its  sharp 
point,  oftener  than  was  consistent  with  his  comfort  or  an  attentive 
observation  of  the  hostile  parties  below. 

A  dray  and  hackney-coach  had  locked  wheels.  The  respective 
drivers  tested  the  strength  of  their  horses,  and  all  the  draymen 
cheered  because  the  two  hackney-coach  horses  could  not  move  the 
enormous  dray  horse. 

"  Take  'em  out ;  lean  'em  up  agin  a  post  to  rest." 

"  Put  them  in  bed  ;  thems  weakly  hanimals !" 

Aroused  to  fury  by  these  taunts  the  coachman  lashed  the  beasts 
unmercifully.  They  sprang  forward,  and  under  the  impetus  which 
the  start  gave  them,  they  rolled  back  the  dray.  The  drayman 
turned  the  head  of  his  horse  until  he  cramped  the  wheels  of  the 
coach,  and  it  was  again  brought  to  a  dead  stand. 

The  coachee,  whose  red  head  and  squinting  eyes  by  no  means 
gave  indications  that  he  possessed  the  placid  temper  that  has  been 
attributed  to  Job  the  myth,  changed  his  whip  into  his  left  hand,  and 
knocking  the  hat  up  from  his  forehead  with  the  right,  squared  him 
self  for  an  indignant  speech. 

"  You  scum  of  the  earth,  how  dare  you  treat  the  driver  of  ha 
hacknev-coach  so  ?" 


* 

80  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

The  other  belligerent  was  a  short,  stout,  thick-set  little  man, 
whose  bullet  head  was  set  jauntily  on  his  bull  neck.  As  the  pre 
liminary  flourish  to  a  reply,  he  doffed  his  round  skull-cap,  and  re 
taining  it  in  the  same  hand  that  he  scratched  his  head  with,  ex 
claimed — 

"  I  pcr-sume  a  honest  drayman  is  as  good — as — the  superfluous 
driver  of  ary  hackney-coach  in  Lon'on  !" 

The  low  obeisance  with  which  this  annunciation  was  accompa 
nied  was  followed  by  a  sudden  erection  of  the  drayman's  figure  into 
rather  more  than  its  natural  attitude,  which  position  it°retained 
with  the  scornful  eyes  elevated  above  the  head  of  the  coachman  at 
an  angle  of  at  least  forty-five  degrees,  where  they  remained  im 
movably  fixed,  as  if  the  pompous  little  man  expected  to  see  a  foe 
worthy  of  his  fists  emerge  from  the  sky.  But  if  such  were  his  am 
bitious  aspirations  they  were  doomed  to  disappointment,  for  a  blind 
ing  cut  fell  from  the  whip  of  no  more  exalted  a  person  than  Timo 
thy  Spriggins,  the  coachman,  upon  the  uplifted  eyes  of  Daniel 
Buzzle,  the  drayman. 

"  Take  tnat,  ye  vagabond." 

"  An  take  that,  you  damned  old  Hessian,  and  that,  and  that, 
too  !"  exclaimed  the  drayman,  who  had  leaped  upon  the  box  of  the 
coach,  and  having  encircled  the  neck  of  his  antagonist  with  one 
arm,  was  poking  sundry  blows  with  the  doubled-up  end  of  the 
other,  into  the  abdominals  of  Mr.  Spriggins,  an  unwarrantable  pro 
ceeding  which  the  coachman  acknowledged  with  divers  grunts, 
that  corresponded  exactly  to  the  number  and  vigor  of  the  aforesaid' 
applications. 

The  combatants  were  cheered  on  by  their  respective  friends  until 
the  police  gathered  in  sufficient  force  to  separate  them  and  disperse 
the  crowd. 

"  Come,  we  have  been  here  too  long  already,"  said  Henry. 

"  Yes,  the  fun  is  all  over.  I  told  you  we  should  see  them  punch 
each  other.  Didn't  they  do  it  well  ?"  And  he  trudged  along  much 
better  satisfied  than  before. 

Collisions  that  end  in  blows  are  not  common  among  the  drivers 
in  London,  owing  to  the  efficiency  of  the  police  in  preventing  ob 
structions  in  the  great  thoroughfares.  In  that  particular  the  reader 
will  recollect  the  great  metropolis  is  much  better  regulated  than 
many  smaller  cities. 

The  two  lads  now  pursued  their  walk  diligently,  and  soon  ar 
rived  at  the  Hall.  Bill  Wilson,  after  obtaining  a  glimpse  at  the 
stand  where  all  the  most  sanctimonious  and  celebrated  of  that  cha 
ritable  congregation  were  assembled,  whispered  to  Henry— 

"  I'm  Mowed  if  they  ain't  prayin'  yet ;  I  told  you  they  were 
long-winded,  them  good  people,  for  nobody  but  the  most  piousest 
have  religion  enough  to  put  up  sich  long  prayers." 

"  Oh,  no,  they  ain't  praying  yet." 
I  tell  you  they  is,"  replied  William  Wilson  positively. 

"  Don't  you  hear  his  voice  ;  do  they  ever  say  'yah,'  as  if  they 
would  never  stop ;  and  so  through  their  noses,  like,  when  they  are 
not  praying  1  you — " 

Here  the  dissertation  of  Master  William  Wilson   on  nasal  into- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  81 

nation,  becoming  rather  too  audible,  was  cut  short,  by  an  ominous 
frown  from  a  police  officer ;  an  arbitrary  interference  with  the 
freedom  of  opinion,  and  the  right  of  speech,  which  that  youngster, 
not  having  the  privilege  of  denouncing  in  set  phrases,  contented 
himself  with  showing  his  horror  and  detestation  of,  by  divers  con 
tortions  of  the  mouth  from  right  to  left,  and  from  left  to  right,  ac 
companied  by  sundry  flourishes  of  the  tongue,  all  of  which  are 
known  to  the  initiated  as  giving  expression  to  illimitable  contempt 
and  aversion. 

The  hammer  of  the  president  was  now  heard  upon  the  desk,  the 
sound  of  which  echoed  through  the  spacious  hall  with  a  gloomy 
distinctness,  calculated  to  impress  the  lounging  spectators  with  a 
solemn  respect  for  the  cause  that  had  elicited  the  prayerful  atten 
tion  of  the  salt  of  the  English  Church. 

The  subject  for  to-day's  consideration  is  now  open  for  remark," 
said  the  venerable  president ;  "it  is  the  awful  condition  of  Ameri 
can  slaveholders.  Brother  Rumfelt  will  address  you." 

Brother  Rumfelt  did  not  discredit  his  name  ;  and,  therefore,  an 
audible  titter  ran  along  the  benches  upon  the  frontiers  of  the  hall, 
when  his  florid  countenance  and  rotund  figure  became  visible  upon 
the  speaker's  stand. 

"  I'god,  he  don't  belie  his  cognomen,  Harry  ;  his  face  is  as  red 
as  a  beet." 

The  man  who  made  this  most  unfeeling  and  irreverent  observa 
tion  was  sitting  near  Henry  and  his  friend.  William  Wilson  had 
not  observed  it  before,  but  now  he  thought  the  Reverend  Ebenezer 
Rumfelt's  face  di^  look  like  a  beet— decidedly  like  a  beet.  The 
likeness  became  so  strong,  and  the  idea  was  so  ludicrous,  that  when 
the  general  titter  had  subsided  which  greeted  the  advent  of  Mr. 
Rumfelt,  and  he  had  begun  to  charm  the  vast  auditory  with  his  elo 
quence,  a  young,  shrill,  uncontrollable,  though  brief  laugh,  ran 
through  the  hall,  at  once  and  forever  upsetting  the  most  brilliant 
period  in  the  exordium  of  that  celebrated  orator.  Every  body's 
eyes  were  turned  in  all  directions  to  discover  the  culprit  whose 
profanity  merited  condign  punishment.  But  no  sooner  had  Master 
William  Wilson's  throat  given  vent  to  his  feelings  than  his  coun 
tenance  resumed  an  expression  of  the  severest  gravity.  The  po 
liceman  happened  to  be  in  another  part  of  the  building,  and  the  per 
son  whose  comparison  caused  the  involuntary  explosion  was  the 
only  person  who  was  certain  that  the  lad  was  the  offender,  and  as 
he  felt  an  interest  in  one  who  laughed  at  his  joke,  it  was  not  prob 
able  he  would  expose  Master  Wilson. 

Mr.  Rumfelt  pursued  very  much  the  same  line  of  argument  that 
the  abolitionists  have  adopted  since  the  days  of  Wilberforce ;  in 
dulging,  perhaps,  rather  more  in  anecdote  and  pathos  than  is  cus 
tomary  with  even  that  sympathetic  class,  which  aroused  the  deep 
est  indignation  of  the  audience  at  the  cruelties  practiced  upon  hu 
man  beings — all  the  way  off  in  America. 

"  I   have,  Mr.  President,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  reflected  much 
and  deeply  upon  the  crimes  of  our  transatlantic  brethren,  and  I  have 
wondered,  Mr.  President,  that  divine  wrath  has  not,  in  some  spe 
cial  manner,  like  the  destruction  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  been 
ft 


82  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

poured  out  upon  them  for  their  iniquities.  To  buy  human  beings  ! 
— to  sell  parents  and  children,  body  and  soul,  into  endless  captivity, 
is  too  horrible  for  contemplation  !  What  a  contrast  does- the  soil 
of  England  present,  for  the  foot  that  once  rests  upon  it  is  instantly 
free."  (Loud  and  prolonged  applause.)  "  Yes,  sir,  free,  noble, 
happy  England  ;  rich  enough  in  Christian  faith,  moral  culture,  aye, 
and  in  pecuniary  wealth,  too,  not  only  for  her  own  population,  but 
with  abundance  to  spare  for  benighted  Africa  and  slavery-accursed 
America."  (Loud  and  prolonged  applause.) 

Henry,  who  managed  to  catch  that  part  of  the  speaker's  words, 
which  intimated  that  there  was  money  enough  for  suffering  mortals 
in  England  and  America,  and  Africa,  too,  thought  that  was  the  time 
to  proclaim  the  distressing. condition  of  his  mother,  and,  with  the 
courage  prompted  by  affection  and  despair,  he  mounted  the  bench, 
and,  with  a  preparatory  hem,  was  in  the  act  of  interrupting  Mr. 
Rumfelt  in  his  sublime  peroration,  when  the  police-officer,  in  a  stern 
tone,  bade  him  descend  from  the  bench.  He  would  have  demurred 
to  the  proceeding  if  the  policeman  had  not  taken  him  by  the  arms 
and  seated  him,  but  with  a  pressure  upon  his  delicate  limbs  that 
made  him  writhe  with  pain.  The  vast  assemblage,  unconscious  of 
the  pain,  as  they  were  of  the  agony  he  was  trying  to  avert  when 
the  authority  of  England  first  laid  its  hands  upon  him,  with  vocifer 
ous  applause  rewarded  the  last  eloquent  flight  of  the  Reverend 
Ebenezer  Rumfelt  in  denunciation  of  every  thing  like  oppression 
— without  the  limits  of  the  British  empire. 

"Please,  sir,  I  want  to  tell  them  mother's  starving,"  said  Henry, 
imploringly  ,  as  the  tears  fell  fast  upon  his  hands  as  they  were  clasp 
ed  before  him. 

"  Hush  !  you  beggar's  brat,"  exclaimed  the  policeman,  in  a  sav 
age  voice. 

"  I  ain't  a  beggar's  brat,  sir,  only  my  mother  has  three  children,  and 
I  am  the  oldest  ;  and  I'm  only  a  weak,  little  boy,  and  she  hazent 
got  a  bit  of  food  in  the  house  ;  and  it's  almost  dinner-time,  and  they 
will  be  so  very  very  hungry  ;  do,  pray  do  let  me  tell  them  to  give 
me  only  a  few  shillings  of  all  the  money  they  are  going  to  send 
away,  far  away  from  England — oh,  pray  do,  sir,  do  /" 

"  Why,  the  brat  is  up  to  all  the  beggar's  tricks.  Now,  you  little 
whelp,  if  you  do  not  keep  quiet,  I'll  pitch  you  out  at  the  door,  d'ye 
hear?" 

If  any  one  had  thought  he  was  a  practiced  beggar  after  ob 
serving  the  earnest  manner  of  Henry  Kane,  and  had  seen  the 
tears  that  fell  as  he  pleaded  so  hard  for  his  dear  mother,  the  indig 
nation  that  flashed  from  his  eyes  when  the  officer,  calling  him  a 
second  time  a  *•  beggar's  brat,"  assured  him  that  he  thought  so, 
would  have  removed  an  impression  so  degrading  to  the  feelings  of 
even  that  poor  child.  A  gentleman  who  sat  near  him  observed  the 
agony  that  was  visible  upon  the  face  of  Henry  as  he  urged  his  re 
quest,  and  it  deepened  his  enunciation  as,  rising,  he  said,  in  a  voice 
that  filled  to  its  entire  compass  the  spacious  hall — 

"  Mr.  President." 

There  was  something  ominous  and  startling  in  the  harsh  voice, 
as  it  grated  upon  the  nerves  of  the  self-lauding  audience  like  the 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY  8* 

application  of  a  rusty  saw.     It  was  therefore  with  a  slight  trepida 
tion  that  the  president  inquired — 

"  Is  the  gentleman  a  member  of  the  charitable  association  for  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  United  States,  and  for  the  reformation 
and  amelioration  of  our  black  brethren  in  Africa  ?" 

"I  have  not  the  honor  of  being  numbered  with  that  sanctimo 
nious  class  of  Englishmen.  Yet,  I  suppose,  a  person  who  has  con 
tributed  to  benevolent  institutions  elsewhere  may  be  heard  here." 
There  was  a  prolonged  and  biting  emphasis  upon  the  word  sancti 
monious,  which  caused  the  president  to  move  uneasily  in  his  soft 
chair;  yet  the  saving  remark  that  he  had  contributed  to  benevolent 
institutions,  produced  a  marked  effect  upon  the  less  discriminating 
members  of  the  society,  and  therefore  cries  of  "  hear  him !  hear 
him  !"  came  from  all  parts  of  the  hall,  and  no  where  more  vocif 
erously  than  from  the  "  outsiders,"  who  were  crowding  together 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  stranger ;  drawn  thither,  not  more  by  his 
clarion  voice  than  by  the  scorn  and  contempt  that  flashed  from  his 
light  grey  eyes. 

'*  As  it  is  the  wish  of  the  society  to  hear  the  gentleman,  he  will 
please  ascend  the  stand  and  gives  his  name,"  said  the  president. 

With  a  form  slightly  stooping,  the  stranger  walked  up  the  aisle, 
and  mounted  the  stand.  "  John  C.  Jones,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice, 
replying  to  the  secretary. 

The  stranger  was  rather  more  than  six  feet  high.  His  thin, 
wiry  frame  seemed  indurated  by  exercise.  His  face,  too.  was 
long  and  thin  ;  his  mouth  large  and  capable  of  wonderful  expres 
sion  ;  his  voice,  sometimes  sonorous,  had  also  tremendous  depth 
of  compass,  that  ran  down  like  the  harsh  and  grating  lower  notes 
of  an  organ,  sending  the  blood  thrilling  along  the  arteries. 

"  Mr.  president,  ladies  and  gentlemen,"  he  began,  with  the  self- 
possession  of  a  practiced  orator—"  this  society  is  world-renowned." 
As  this  announcement  flattered  their  vanity,  it  was  of  course  loud 
ly  applauded.  "  No  other  has  acquired  such  extensive  notoriety 
for  its  far  reaching  charity."  This  annunciation  was  also  loudly 
cheered,  and  the  cheers  were,  of  course,  disinterested,  because  they 
were  uttered  by  men  who  were  blowing  their  own  trumpet ;  and 
they  were  vigorous,  for  who  else  would  expend  their  breath  with 
such  hearty  good  will.  Having  thus  exhibited  their  entire  concur 
rence  in  all  the  complimentary  things  he  could  possibly  say  about 
them,  they  prepared  to  listen  with  sympathies  expanded  to  any  im 
aginable  degree,  to  the  soothing  words  that  might  fall  from  the  lips 
of  the  orator. 

"  The  human  family  can  never  sufficiently  express  their  gratitude 
to  this  society  for  taking  under  its  especial  control  the  fallen 
members  of  our  race.  No  other  society  is  favored  by  almighty 
power  with  such  a  superabundance  of  piety,  which  enables  you  to 
lift  up  your  eyes  in  public  places,  and  thank  God,  like  the  Pharisees 
of  old,  that  you  are  not  as  wicked  as  other  men.  Few,  very  few 
associations  called  into  being  by  a  desire  to  ameliorate— I  believe, 
Mr.  President,  that  was  your  expression — ameliorate  the  condition 
of  mankind,  and  to  obtain  for  the  members  thereof  a  gratifying 


84  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

notoriety,  have  been  favored  with  such  marked  success  as  the  one 
I  have  now  the  honor  of  addressing." 

The  speaker  dwelt  upon  "notoriety,"  as  if  he  would  never 
enunciate  the  word,  and  the  president  did  not  breathe  half  so  hard 
when  each  prolonged  syllable  had  visited  every  nook  and  corner  of 
the  hall.  That  sagacious  individual  listened  as  if  they  had  been 
"  sold"  from  the  start,  and  he  now  intimated  that  he  trusted  some 
of  his  more  illustrious  associates  were  of  the  like  opinion,  by  ex 
changing  ominous  glances  with  them.  Profound  silence  reigned 
in  the  hall  as  that  harsh,  emphatic  voice  continued  to  pour  forth  a 
resistless  torrent,  the  effect  of  which  was,  to  bring  the  irreligious 
portion  of  the  audience  to  their  feet,  and  to  cause  the  members  to 
cower  involuntarily  in  their  seats. 

"  You  have  been  fortunate,  wonderfully  fortunate,  for  renown 
such  as  you  have  acquired  is  enough  to  gratify  the  ambition  of  the 
most  aspiring.  When  you,  Mr.  President,  are  seen  in  public,  the 
welcome  shout  reaches  your  ears,  '  There  goes  the  benevolent 
President  of  the  Dexeter  Hall  Society.'  What  could  be  more 
soothing  to  your  feelings  1  You  exhibit  a  commendable  improve 
ment  upon  the  example  of  our  Saviour,  whose  modest  demeanor, 
and  secret  charities,  though,  perhaps,  very  proper  eighteen  centu 
ries  ago,  and  no  doubt  in  strict  consonance  with  the  divine  charac 
ter,  is  quite  inconsistent  with, this  enlightened  age,  and  totally  at 
variance  with  the  ostentatious  and  pharisaical  religion  of  the  pre 
sent  day.  And  herein  lies  the  grand  secret  of  your  success,  Mr. 
President.  It  is  idle  to  suppose  that  money  will  be  freely  given 
for  charitable  objects,  if  the  ex — eel — lent  donor  is  not  to  reap  a 
quick  return  upon  his  investment.  He  cannot,  with  reason,  be 
asked  to  give  liberally  of  his  abundant  store,  to  relieve  those  who 
are  less  fortunate,  if  the  sound  of  his  contribution,  as  it  falls  into 
the  box,  is  never  to  be  echoed  by  public  approbation.  It  is  not 
enough  that  bread  scattered  upon  the  waters  shall  return  after 
many  days.  Quick  returns  and  large  interest  are  more  suited  to 
these  commercial  times,  than  to  that  primitive  period  when  one  of 
the  most  illustrious  of  the  apostles  engaged  in  the  humble  avoca 
tion  of  a  fisherman.  And  if  the  Saviour  should  make  a  second  ap 
pearance  upon  the  earth,  for  the  purpose  of  regenerating  the  human 
family,  he  would  doubtless  call  to  his  assistance  the  members  of 
this  society,  who  have  made  such  decided  and  highly  respectable 
improvements  in  the  method  of  extending  alms  over  that  practiced 
by  the  Redeemer  and  his  lowly  followers  when  they  were  satisfied 
with  the  simple  plan  of  giving  in  secret." 

The  President  honored  with  a  reproving  glance  one  of  the  lead 
ers  of  the  Society,  who  joined  in  the  call  made  upon  Mr.  Jones  to 
address  them,  which  said,  unmistakably, 
"  Now  I  hope  you  are  satisfied." 

And  the  humble  way  the  chastened  brother  met  the  glance 
plainly  indicated  he  was. 

"  But  what  adds  still  more  to  your  fame,  and  merits  the  attention 
of  the  civilized  world,  is  the  fact  that  you  have  religiously  obeyed 
the  glorious  mandate,  that  '  Charity  beginneth  at  home1  before 
seeking  to  reform  abuses  in  another  hemisphere." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  8* 

The  eyes  of  the  President  were  fixed  still  more  remorselessly 
upon  the  offending  brother. 

"  You  have  relieved  the  suffering  and  oppressed  throughout  Eng 
land.  The  streets  are  destitute  of  beggars,  the  wail  of  anguish  is 
no  longer  heard  in  the  factories,  the  howl  of  despair  is  hushed  in 
wretched  hovels,  crime  walks  no  more  in  London,  vice  has  left  the 
great  metropolis.  Shivering,  clotheless  forms  are  no  longer  ex 
posed  to  the  blasts  of  winter  ;  and  starvation,  withall  its  untold 
horrors,  stalks  no  more,  Mr.  President,  among  your  tenants.  You 
no  longer  take  bread  from  infants,  no  longer  wring  parental  hearts 
with  agony,  that  you  may  make  an  ostentatious  display  of  your 
charities  /" 

The  terrible  irony  with  which  these  words  were  uttered  caused 
the  President  to  start  to  his  feet,  and  exclaim  with  great  agitation, 

"Order!  order!" 

Turning  upon  him  a  glance  of  fire,  while  his  mouth  was  contort 
ed  into  an  expression  of  overwhelming  contempt,  the  orator  said, 

"  I  am  not  out  of  order,  unless  to  recapitulate  what  you  ought  to 
have  done,  before  im — per — li — nent — ly  meddling  with  the  affairs 
of  others,  is  considered  out  of  order."  and  he  shook  his  bony 
finger  threateningly  at  the  President. 

"  In  order !  in  order !"  came  like  a  tempest  from  the  outskirts 
of  the  building. 

"  Resume  the  chair,  Mr.  President  !"  he  continued  in  a  stern, 
commanding  voice. 

The  President  sunk  into  his  seat. 

"  My  mission  here  is  to  expose  cant,  to  uncloak  hypocrisy,  and 
to  tear  the  thin,  but  impervious  covering  from  that  which  you  have 
dignified  with  the  appellation  of  charity,  but  which  is  no  more  than 
the  painted  sepulchre  condemned  by  that  blessed  Redeemer,  in 
whose  name  you  have  perpetrated  the  most  infamous  rascalities, 
practised  hypocrisy  that  would  have  disgraced  the  most  abject 
felon,  and  consummated  iniquities  that  a  just  God  will  punish  with 
eternal  damnation.  You  shall  now  hear  what  an  AMERICAN  thinks 
of  you." 

This  annunciation  produced  a  marked  effect,  but  the  silence  with 
which  it  was  at  first  received,  was  broken  by  the  thunder  of  ap 
plause  that  shook  the  building.  Cheer  upon  cheer  welcomed  the 
speaker  from  the  vast  throng  of  spectators  who,  having  filled  the 
rear  of  the  hall,  now  crowded  along  the  aisles,  so  that  the  members 
of  the  society  could  not  escape  the  malediction  of  the  indignant 
orator,  if  they  would. 

The  President  now  sat  in  stupid  silence  until  the  storm,  which 
the  American  had  raised,  should  pass  away. 

"  The  gentleman  who  preceded  me  indulged  in  remarks  that  dis 
played  a  lamentable  ignorance  of  the  peculiar  institution  of  my 
country,  from  the  moment  it  was  founded,  against  our  wishes,  by 
British  obstinacy  and  cupidity,  to  the  present  hour.  Admitting, 
for  the  sake  of  argument,  that  slavery  is  an  evil,  it  is  one  that  Eng 
lish  avarice  established,  and  one  that  English  jealousy,  and  not 
English  philanthropy,  now  seeks  to  destroy." 
This  assertion  was  loudly  applauded  by  the  outsiders. 


86  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  It  cannot  be  forcibly  eradicated  without  the  total  destruction  of 
our  government.  And  does  it  not  come  with  a  bad  grace  from 
those  who  planted  slavery  in  America,  to  ask  us  to  abolish  it  at  the 
imminent  risk  of  subverting  the  most  glorious  system  evoked  by  the 
wisdom  of  the  human  race  !  And  for  what  ?  To  uproot  the  prin 
ciples  upon  which  the  great  Republic  is  based,  solely  for  the  pur 
pose  of  strengthening  the  crumbling  foundation  of  despotism. 

"The  gentleman  referred  to  the  dreadful  sale  and  separation  of 
families  in  the  southern  states.  Who  does  not  know  that  neces 
sity,  stern,  implacable,  resistless  necessity  is  daily  sundering  the 
bonds  which  rivet  the  affections  of  your  serfs  ?  Nay,  within  this 
hour  I  heard  a  poor  child  say  that  his  father  had  been  seized  by  a 
press-gang,  and  that  his  mother  has  been  left  to  wage  an  unequal 
contest  with  hunger,  if  not  with  dishonor;  and  he  begged  so  pite- 
ously  to  have  the  privilege  of  asking  you,  you,  Mr.  President,  for 
a  few  shillings  of  that  vast  sum  you  are  about  to  expend  in  the 
cause  of  abolitionism  to  keep  his  mother  from  starvation.  And  here 
— within  the  walls  of  Dexeter  Hall — where  rotten-hearted  philan 
thropy  revels  in  its  foetid  corruption,  yonder  minion  of  power,  whose 
livery  conceals  the  heart  of  a  hyena,  savagely  repulsed  him." 

A  storm  of  hisses  were  levelled  at  the  officer,  and  fierce  cries  of, 
"  He's  a  brute — he's  a  brute,"  met  his  startled  ears. 

"  Now,  Mr.  President,  how  much  will  this  society  appropriate 
of  the  money  collected  to  forward  the  unholy  crusade  of  abolition 
ism,  for  the  purpose  of  ameliorating  the  condition  of  that  noble  lit 
tle  boy,  and  others,  in  the  same  situation?"  The  speaker  paused. 

"  Come,  sir,  I  will  yield  the  floor  that  the  motion  may  be  made." 

"  The  proposition  is  out  of  order,"  muttered  the  president. 

"  Out  of  or — der !  Yes,  it  is  out  of  OR — DER  to  relieve  the  agony 
that  is  visible  upon  this  floor,  and  that  pleads  with  a  child's  voice 
for  succor  ;  but  it  is  not  out  of  or — der — English  order,  to  let  him. 
starve.  Well,  sir,  what  will  you  give  out  of  your  own  funds  for 
the  relief  of  this  family  ?" 

"Your  conduct  is  unusual,  sir  ;  your  remarks  are  personal,  sir," 
responded  the  presiding  officer. 

"  My  application  ivas  personal  ;  it  was  made  to  you,  Solomon 
Greasebeans,  in  your  individual  capacity,  and  the  response  is  ac 
companied  with  quite  as  little  aid  as  when  I  appealed  to  Solomon 
Greasebeans,  the  president  of  a  celebrated  society.  What  is  the 
conclusion  that  must  be  forced  upon  every  unprejudiced  individual 
in  this  assemblage  ?  That  a  contemptible  ambition  is  the  ground 
work  of  your  benevolence.  In  the  United  States  we  sell  the  father, 
but  the  wife  and  children  are  fed,  clothed,  and  nursed  in  sickness. 
The  law  in  its  mercy  requires  it ;  the  interest  of  the  owner  is  a 
double  guarantee  for  its  fulfillment.  Here  you  steal  the  father, 
through  the  agency  of  a  press-gang,  and  leave  the  wife  and  chil 
dren  to  misery,  dishonor,  sickness,  and  death  !  There  families  are 
separated  by  executive  sale  ;  here  by  a  necessity  quite  as  irresis 
tible.  There  our  slaves  are  well  fed  and  clothed  ;  here  the  trav 
eller  is  at  a  loss  to  know  whether  to  laugh  at  the  scanty  raiment, 
which  is  sometimes  an  apology  for  clothing,  or  to  weep  over  the 
emaciation  that  nakedness  reveals.  There  the  young  negroes  are 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  81 

rarely  taken  from  the  play-grounds ;  here  little  white  serfs  drop 
into  the  grave,  with  broken  constitutions,  at  seven  years  of  age. 
Such  are  the  contrasts  drawn  by  stern  reality.  I  will  leave  you  to 
contemplate  them,  remarking,  in  conclusion,  that  we  are  annually 
giving  homes  to  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  what  you  com 
placently  call  the  *  surplus  population'  of  England.  We  feed, 
clothe,  and  educate  those  whom  you  would  mercifully  starve.  We 
enable  them  to  send  five  millions  of  dollars  annually  to  relieve  the 
wants  of  those  who  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  unable  to  escape 
from  servitude — who  are  still  subjected  to  the  oppressive  laws  of 
the  British  empire.  While  we  remember  these  facts,  we  can  af 
ford  to  despise  the  canting  hypocrisy  which  emanates  from  the  re 
nowned  society  of  Dexeter  Hall." 

The  orator  descended  from  the  stand,  after  having  given  utter 
ance  to  the  most  caustic  speech  ever  heard  in  that  temple  of  the 
philanthropic.  The  president  sat  motionless,  while  the  speaker 
was  greeted  by  prolonged  cheers,  that  had  more  of  earnestness  in 
them,  and  less  of  sanctity  than  was  usually  vouchsafed  to  that  ven 
erable  pile. 

Henry  was  as  much  excited  as  the  most  enthusiastic,  and  he  ex 
claimed,  as  he  clapped  his  hands, 

"  Oh  !  he'll  do  something  for  ma,  I  know  he  will  do  something 
for  ma." 

fc  "  Now  you  little  rascal,  out  with  you,"  said  the  officer,  as,  seizing 
him  by  the  collar,  he  led  him  towards  the  door. 

"  Oh  don't,  don't,  till  I've  seen  him  ;  pray  don't." 

"  Will  you  hush  ?"  screamed  the  policeman,  as  he  shook  him  vi 
olently. 

"  Shame  !  shame  !"  cried  several  of  the  crowd. 

The  officer  paused  for  a  moment  and  scowled  upon  them.  "  Per 
haps  you  will  try  to  effect  a  rescue,  gentlemen  ?" 

They  were  appalled  by  his  words,  and  moving  on,  he  pitched  the 
child  into  the  street. 

When  Mr.  Jones  reached  that  part  of  the  hall  where  his  atten 
tion  had  been  attracted  to  Henry,  he  paused.  "  Have  you  seen  the 
little  child  to  whom  I  alluded,"  he  asked  of  a  bystander. 

"  Yes,  but  a  moment  ago  the  officer  thrust  him  out." 
t    The  gentleman  pushed  his  way  rapidly  through  the  crowd,  but 
when  he  arrived  at  the  portico,  the  boy  was  no  longer  to  be  seen  ; 
his  slight  figure  had  been  borne  irresistibly  along  by  the  vast  mul 
titude. 


ENGLISH  SERFDOM 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  Cheerful  glows  the  festive  chamber  ; 

In  the  circle  pleasure  smiles  : 

Mounts  the  flume,  like  wreath  of  amber, 

Bright  as  love  its  warmth  beguiles." — PEBCIVAL. 

SCARCELY  had  the  full  moon  risen  and  faintly  brought  the  angles 
and  turrets  of  Montague  Castle  into  view,  gently  mellowing  and 
subduing  the  evidences  of  decay,  as  we  love  to  see  them  repre 
sented  upon  canvas,  when  the  "flower  of  the  English  aristocracy 
began  to  assemble,  for  the  purpose  of  joining  in  the  festivities  of 
the  occasion.  Carriage  after  carriage  rolled  up  beneath  the  portals 
of  the  castle,  with  their  liveried  coachmen,  and  their  precious 
freight  of  wit,  beauty,  and  intelligence.  A  long  line  of  magnifi 
cent  robes  and  sparkling  diamonds  swept  into  the  hall  and  mounted 
the  staircase  to  the  dressing-room.  The  castle  was  brilliantly  illu 
minated.  Each  window,  tower,  and  balcony  sent  its  rays  into  the 
night.  Lamps  were  placed  among  the  trees  that  ornamented  the 
ground,  and  their  light  mingling  wiih  the  smile  of  the  moon,  pre 
sented  an  appearance  of  more  than  oriental  beauty.  Among  the 
guests  who  arrived  at  an  early  hour  were  Lord  Delmore  and  Sir 
William  Belthoven.  The  former  carried  his  arm  in  a  sling,  which, 
from  pure  accident,  no  doubt,  was  made  of  the  finest  material  the 
market  afforded.  Sir  William  Belthoven  was  radiant  with  satis 
faction  at  being  still  preserved  for  the  benefit  of  his  constituency 
and  the  service  of  his  queen  ;  which,  in  his  estimation,  consisted 
(of  what,  in  England,  is  not  a  peculiarity),  of  a  willingness  to  tax 
his  constituents  to  any  amount  the  wants  of  her  majesty  or  the 
public  service  might  require.  This,  he  imagined,  entitled  him  not 
only  to  the  lasting  gratitude  of  those  whom  he  enabled  thus  to  man 
ifest  their  loyalty  to  the  throne,  but  to  a  seat  in  parliament  so  long 
as  he  could  succeed  in  humbugging  electors  not  hitherto  remarkable 
for  their  sagacity  in  detecting  the  grossest  impositions.  As  John 
Bull  is  fond  of  being  humbugged,  Sir  William  considered  himself 
as  occupying,  to  some  extent,  the  position  of  a  public  benefactor, 
which  added  in  no  inconsiderable  degree  to  his  complacency. 

Lord  Delmore  having  paid  his  salutations  to  Lord  and  Lady  Ross- 
more  gracefully  bowed  his  way  through  the  crush  of  laces  and 
silks,  to  that  part  of  the  room  where  Lady  Katharine  was  sur 
rounded  by  hosts  of  admirers. 

"  I  regretted  to  see,  Lord  Delmore,  that  my  forebodings  were  too 
well  founded." 

"  How  so"?"  inquired  his  lordship. 

"  That  you  have  become  so  corpulent  it  is  no  longer  safe  for  you 
to  encounter  the  hazards  of  a  steeple-chase." 

"  The  fall  was  occasioned  by  anxiety  lest  I  should  fail  to  win  the 
prize  your  fair  hand  was  to  bestow." 

"  Over  weight,  my  lord." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  89 

"  The  dread  of  failure." 

"  Too  much  rotundity." 

"  Have  it  as  you  will,  I  am  still  spared,  and  remain  the  most  de 
voted  of  your  admirers,"  replied  the  veteran  and  unconquerable 
beau. 

"  Oh  !  thank  you,"  replied  the  lady,  as  she  made  a  low  and  grace 
ful  courtesy,  in  mock  humility. 

"  My  mother  says  you  have  often  made  the  same  observation  to 
her,"  remarked  the  young-  and  transparently  simple  Lady  Emily 
Snizzle,  sister  of  the  reader's  acquaintance  of  the  same  name. 

"  An  observation  I  am  fearful  your  ladyship  will  never  elicit," 
remarked  the  peer,  with  a  stately  air,  which  had  the  effect  of  ren 
dering  that  young  lady  extremely  taciturn  for  the  rest  of  the  even 
ing.  He  put  a  quietus  upon  her  in  his  own  peculiar  manner,  which, 
by  the  way,  he  always  adopted  in  silencing  "  sap  heads."  And  it 
is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  in  the  estimation  of  his  lordship,  it  made 
not  the  slightest  difference  whether  the  "  sap  head"  was  attached 
to  the  shoulders  of  a  person  whose  great-grandfather  was  a  peer  of 
the  realm  or  a  tinker;  and  therein  consisted  the  solitary  proclivity 
of  his  lordship  for  republicanism.  A  proclivity  which  had  its  ori 
gin  in  a  contempt  for  dullness,  whether  it  was  palliated  by  social 
position  and  costly  raiment,  or  displayed  itself  in  the  garb  of  pov 
erty,  rather  than  from  a  constitutional  love  for  the  lower  orders. 

Timothy,  Lord  Snizzle,  now  advanced  to  pay  his  respects  to  Lady 
Katharine.  It  was  observable  that  "Tim  Snizzle,"  as  Lord  Del- 
more  irreverently  called  him,  (with  a  reprehensible  disregard  for 
the  said  Timothy's  position,  as  the  heir  apparent  to  a  dukedom,) 
could  see  much  better  in  genteel  society  without  requiring  the  as 
sistance  of  his  eye-glass,  than  among  the  wealthy  parvenus,  who 
assumed  that  every  thing  done  by  a  lord  must  be  worthy  of  admi 
ration.  His  grimaces  were  not,  therefore,  half  so  painful  to  con 
template,  as  when  he  was  conscious  of  awakening  mingled  emotions 
of  envy  and  delight  which  his  contortions  elicited  from  that  portion 
of  his  acquaintance.  Habit,  however,  sometimes  made  him  uncon 
sciously  thrust  the  glass  into  the  socket  of  his  eye.  Upon  such 
occasions  the  left  orb  instead  of  the  right  performed  the  unpleas 
ant  task  of  making  him  short-sighted,  and  the  grimaces  thereby 
awakened  were  not  half  so  fearful  to  contemplate  as  those  with 
which  the  right  eye  was  accustomed  to  favor  the  substratum  of 
London  society. 

"  Look  here,  Snizzle,"  said  Lord  Delmore,  "  they  have  an  eye 
infirmary  in  the  city  ;  why  do  you  not  have  an  operation  performed  ? 
for  you  cannot,  of  course,  expect  any  prudent  young  lady  to  ally 
herself  to  such  a  face  as  you  now  present.  Judge  for  yourself; 
look  in  the  mirror." 

Lord  Snizzle  turned  to  the  mirror,  and  for  a  moment  regarded 
the  contortions  that  had  drawn  up  the  lower  part  of  his  left  cheek 
to  meet  the  upper  part  which  had  a  corresponding  depression.  The 
exertion  had  the  effect  of  disclosing  several  sharply  pointed  teeth, 
thereby  giving  to  his  mouth  a  voracious  expression. 

The  muscles  of  his  face  collapsed  as  he  finished  a  rather  cursory 


90  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

examination,  and  the  eye-glass  fell  to  the  length  of  a  pretentious 
chain. 

"  Snizzle,"  continued  Delmore,  "  it  is  a  great  mistake  to  suppose 
that  any  defect  of  vision  can  add  to  the  attractions  of  an  individual. 
The  eyes  are  remarkably  true  evidences  of  mental  conformation. 
Thus,  if  a  person  is  cross-eyed,  you  will  find  a  corresponding  ob 
liquity  in  his  moral  perceptions.  "  If  he  is  near-sighted,  his  conduct 
will  seldom  square  with  the  recognized  standards  of  propriety  or 
common  sense.  There  may  be  exceptions  to  the  rule,  but  I  have 
not  been  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  them.  In  either  case,  von 
will  find  their  possessors  have  crafty IOT  turbulent  dispositions,  way 
ward  and  uncontrollable  passions,  or  are  governed  by  a  thorough 
contempt  for  the  sacred  and  necessary  regulations  which  morality 
has  established  for  the  control  of  society." 

Lord  Snizzle  had  a  great  respect  for  the  opinions  of  the  veteran 
beau,  because  he  was  always  cordially  welcomed  in  the  most  select 
circles,  and  he  inwardly  resolved  never  to  use  his  eye-glass  except 
among  plebeians,  where  he  knew  it  couldn't  fail  of  producing  a  sen 
sation. 

The  guests  continued  to  arrive,  and  the  spacious  rooms  were 
thronged.     The  hour  had  come  when  the  ball  was  to  "  be  opened." 
"  Kate,  has  the  hero  of  the  steeple-chase  yet  presented  him 
self1?'1  asked  Lord  Rossmore. 
"  No,  pa'pa,"  she  replied. 
"  Has  he  sent  no  message  ?" 
"  Not  that  I  have  received." 

"  It  is  remarkable.  I  should  not  judge  from  his  bearing  that  he 
could  be  guilty  of  discourtesy." 

"  We  could  expect  nothing  else  from  a  person  occupying  his  po 
sition,"  said  the  maiden,  as  her  nostrils  dilated  and  a  flush  suffused 
her  cheeks. 

"  Perhaps  he  may  be  ill,  or  more  probably,  his  bashfulness  could 
not  brave  this  array  of  illustrious  names." 

"  He  certainly  ought  not  to  expose  me  to  the  taunts  which  the 
impertinent  will  indulge  in,  notwithstanding  my  hand  in  the  dance 
would  be  an  honor  the  most  illustrious  noble  in  the  castle  might  be 
proud  of.  But  it  is  idle  to  look  for  well-bred  manners  in  a  boor," 
replied  Katharine  Montague,  as  her  eyes  flashed,  and  her  little  foot 
impatiently  tapped  the  velvet  carpet. 

At  this  inopportune  moment  Lord  Melville  made  his  way  through 
the  press  of  silks  to  the  side  of  Lady  Katharine. 

"  I  congratulate  your  ladyship,"  he  said  spitefully,  "  on  the  hap 
piness  which  is  vouchsafed  you  in  being  honored  with  the  hand  of 
my  father's  tenant  in  the  dance." 

"  An  honor  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  your  lordship's  want  of 
skill  and  courage  as  an  equestrian,  whereby  your  father's  tenant 
convinced  your  father's  son,  that  so  far  at  least  as  one  accomplish 
ment  is  concerned,  which  denotes  a  man,  the  high-born  noble  is  not 
the  equal  of  the  humble  retainer  ,''  replied  the  maiden  sarcastically. 
"  Baulked,  hey,  Melville  ?"  exclaimed  Delmore  gayly.  "  Why, 
man,  have  you  not  measured  lances  often  enough  with  Lady  Kath- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  91 

arine  Montague  to  discover  your  inferiority  in  the  tournament  of 
wit !" 

"  And  if  I  have,  I  believe  I  am  not  the  only  one  who  has  heen 
favored  with  the  same  experience,"  replied  Melville  sarcastically. 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  at  all  events  you  are  the  only  case  that  has 
come  to  my  knowledge  where  experience  has  not  produced  caution. 
But  there  is  an  old  adage,  scriptural  or  classical,  I  have  forgotten 
which,  that  says,  whom  the  gods  would  destroy  they  first  make 
mad.  If  there  is  any  truth  in  it,  your  prospect  for  a  long  enjoy 
ment  of  sanity  is  very  slender." 

Melville  controlled  his  indignation  with  a  powerful  effort,  as  he 
walked  away. 

"  Bilious,  decidedly  bilious,"  remarked  Sir  William  Belthoven  ; 
"  he  ought  to  offer  for  a  seat  in  Parliament ;  that  would  teach  him 
patience,  I'll  be  bound." 

With  an  anxiety  that  caused  Katharine  Montague  to  smile 
through  her  blushes,  she  glanced  around  the  room.  But  the  hum 
ble  tenant  whose  presence,  under  the  circumstances,  would  have 
caused  a  thrill  of  pleasure,  did  not  make  his  appearance. 

It  was  with  a  face  flushed  with  a  scarlet  hue  that  she  addressed 
even  Lord  Delmore,  the  oldest  and  most  esteemed  of  her  acquaint 
ances. 

"  My  lord,  I  hope  you  will  excuse  the  liberty  I  take  in  asking 
you  to  favor  me  with  your  hand  in  opening  the  dance  to-night. 
The  individual  who  was  to  have  had  that  honor,  has,  it  seems, 
proved  a  recreant  knight,"  and  a  faint  smile  wreathed  the  lips  of 
the  haughty,  beauty. 

"Certainly,  my  dear  Lady  Katherine ;  nothing  could  give  me 
greater  pleasure  than  this  unexpected  honor,"  replied  Lord  Del- 
more  with  the  greatest  deference. 

The  dancers  took  their  places,  and  the  gorgeous  music  floated 
through  the  spacious  saloon.  The  figure  was  the  stately  quadrille 
which  so  well  shows  off  the  beauty  of  form  and  grace  of  motion. 
The  polka  and  waltz  were  excluded  :  the  polka  and  waltz,  for 
whose  voluptuous  embrace  less  refined  maidens  pant,  as  though 
with  it  their  fortunes — thereby  meaning  rich  husbands  and  fine  es 
tablishments — were  made,  and  without  it  they  were  doomed  to  per 
petual  celibacy :  the  polka  and  waltz,  borrowed  from  the  out 
door,  sky-ceilinged,  leaf-walled  ball-rooms  of  the  Rhine,  and  the 
less  romantic  and  respectable  quartiers  of  the  Parisian  grisettes. 
The  polka  and  waltz,  intended  to  display  the  accomplishments  of 
those  whose  heels  can  be  cultivated,  but  whose  heads  cannot :  the 
polka  and  waltz,  whose  days  are  numbered,  and  whose  votaries 
will  soon  go  to  the  wall,  when  heels  will  occupy  the  position 
where  brains  have  long  been  stationed.  Then  the  class  known  as 
the  species  snip,  instead  of  thrusting  their  capering  stupidity, 
where  wisdom  modestly  appears,  will  resume  their  rightful  position 
among  the  outsiders.  No  more  will  be  seen  the  forms  of  men  who, 
gifted  with  imposing  presence,  yet  stoop  to  the  attitude  of  mon 
keys  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  gaudy-dressed  sapheads  to  show 
off  their  figures  advantageously.  The  beardless  stripling  may  no 
longer  attempt  to  strain  himself  up  to  manhood,  by  the  waist  of 


92  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

some  spinster  who  could  boast  of  maturity  at  least  half  a  dozen 
years  ago.  That  enchanting  combination  of  hops,  shuffles,  and 
skips,  that  is  simply  a  prelude  to  the  more  violent  features  of  the 
main  performance,  though  surpassing  them  in  the  spasmodic  mo 
tions  which  strongly  resemble  a  double  representation  of  St.  Vitus's 
dance,  will  never  more  cause  the  hearts  of  adoring  mammas  to 
overflow  with  happiness ;  never  more  cause  the  feminine  member 
of  the  jigging  partnership  to  cast  devotional  glances  into  the  eyes 
of  the  male  member  as  a  reward  for  encircling  her  waist  with  a 
more  vigorous  arm,  under  an  implied  understanding  that  it  is  not 
squeezing — though  very  like  it — only  necessary  support.  Never 
again  suffer  demure  yet  observant  glances  to  flash  around,  as  she 
whirls  past,  to  see  if  some  other  beau  is  not  dying  of  envy  because 
his  arm  is  not  around  her  zone  ;  to  estimate  the  probabilities  of 
that  fine-looking  stranger  desiring  an  introduction,  to  encourage 
which  she  suffers  several  additional  pounds  of  her  invaluable  weight 
to  rest  in  the  arms  of  her  partner.  Never  again  will  she  whirl 
around  the  room  until  her  strength  is  completely  exhausted,  in  the 
hope  that  all  the  spectators  will  have  an  opportunity  of  admiring 
the  grace  with  which  she  can  balance  herself  upon  one  foot,  while 
the  other  cuts  two  or  three  fantastic  flourishes  unseen,  if  it  is  fash 
ioned  after  a  shovelish  mould  ;  a  performance  that  is  duly  reward 
ed  by  suffering  that  foot  to  obtain  a  few  moments'  rest  in  gratitude 
for  its  vigorous  demonstrations,  while  the  other  is  made  to  cut  the 
eame  fascinating  shake. 

The  figure  was  the  graceful  and  stately  quadrille,  and  the  tnost 
observed°among  the  dancers  was  Katherine  Montague.  Her  spirit 
was  not  in  the  amusement,  for  she  dreaded  the  biting  sarcasm  of 
Lord  Melville.  To  avoid  meeting  him  she  withdrew  from  the  sa 
loon  when  the  figure  was  over.  Passing  along  the  balcony,  she 
turned  an  angle  of  the  castle.  The  night  was  exceedingly  lovely. 
The  moon  had  mounted  above  the  trees,  and  was  casting  a  flood  of 
light  upon  the  rich  foliage  that  surrounded  the  castle.  The  stars 
were  good-naturedly  winking  at  the  festivities  of  the  hour.  The 
soft  breezes  of  departing  summer  gently  agitated  the  trees,  and 
upon  the  fragrant  air,  mellowed  by  distance,  floated  the  music  of 
the  band. 

The  maiden  contemplated  the  scene  with  emotions  of  tranquil 
delight.  Hers  was  a  mind  that  could  elevate  itself  above  a  dance, 
the  newest  fashions,  and  the  opinion  which  one-half  the  wor]d  had 
formed  and  expressed  of  the  other  half.  With  all  her  pride  of  an 
cestry,  and  of  caste,  there  was  at  the  foundation  of  her  character  a 
lively  regard  for  the  rights  of  the  masses  ;  less  philosophical,  per 
haps,  than  impulsive.  It  was  this  that  prompted  her  to  indulge  in 
those  ironical  allusions  to  the  government  and  social  regulations  of 
England  which  were  listened  to  by  the  Duchess  of  Sunderland  and 
the  Countess  of  Rossmore  with  such  lively  satisfaction.  The  abo 
lition  opinions  of  the  former  she  assailed  with  a  power  of  sarcasm 
that  nothing  but  the  wretched  condition  of  the  tenantry  upon  the 
Sunderland  estate  could  have  enabled  her  to  indulge  in. 

She  gladly  turned  from  the  gay  crowd  for  a  few  moments  to 
gaze  upon  the  beauties  of  nature.  The  private  grounds  of  the 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  93 

castle,  with  their  flowers  and  shrubbery,  lay  invitingly  open.  The 
beckoning  trees  waved  her  onwards,  and  descending  the  staircase 
she  entered  the  garden,  slowly  proceeding  along  the  gravel  walk 
leading  to  the  stream  that  bounded  the  garden  in  that  direction. 

She  seated  herself  in  a  bower  that  overlooked  the  water  and 
commanded  a  view  of  the  undulating  park  which  stretched  away 
to  the  south.  She  was  aroused  from  her  recumbent  posture  by  the 
wailing  of  a  child.  Ever  alive  to  the  voice  of  distress  she  listened. 
The  cry  became  fainter,  not  as  she  thought  by  distance,  but  by 
weakness.  It  seemed  to  proceed  from  the  carriage-way  that  led 
through  that  part  of  the  grounds.  Her  sympathies  were  excited, 
and  apprehending  no  danger  where  she  was  known  to  the  humble 
only  to  be  idolized,  she  descended  the  pathway  leading  to  the 
stream  and  crossed  the  rustic  bridge  to  the  other  side.  Ascending 
to  the  summit  of  the  acclivity,  she  paused  to  listen.  The  voice  of 
a  man  uttered  words  of  encouragement  and  consolation.  There 
could  be  no  risk  in  meeting  one  who  was  evidently  engaged  in  the 
cause  of  mercy,  and  she  advanced  in  the  direction  from  whence 
faint  moans  were  now  heard. 

As  she  emerged  from  the  cluster  of  trees  that  bordered  the  car 
riage-way,  she  saw  the  form  of  a  man  bending  over  a  child,  whose 
head  he  was  sustaining  upon  his  arm.  He  turned  his  head  at  her 
approach,  and  she  met  the  glance  of  Christie  Kane.  The  young 
man  raised  the  boy  to  his  feet,  still  sustaining  his  weight  with  his  arm. 

"  And  this  is  the  reason  why  you  did  not  keep  your  engagement 
at  the  castle T'  she  observed,  in  a  tone  that  was  in  the  slightest  de 
gree  tremulous. 

"  No,  madam,"  responded  Christie  Kane,  decidedly. 

"  And,  pray,  to  what  other  cause  may  your  rudeness  be  attribu 
ted  ?"  she  curtly  inquired. 

"Not  to  thrust  myself  where  I  should  only  be  welcomed  by 
scoffs,  can  hardly  be  termed  an  act  of  rudeness." 

"  You  misunderstand,  sir,  the  courtesy  of  our  house.  Whom  we 
admit  within  its  precincts,  we  know  how  to  treat  with  civility."' 

"  Probably,  after  they  are  admitted  ;  but  there  is  a  way  to  ex 
clude  an  individual  who  may  know  what  is  due  to  himself,  if  he  is 
a  peasant,"  replied  Kane,  sarcastically. 

"  How  ] — what  do  you  mean  T' 

"  I  mean,  lady,  that  nature  has  endowed  me  with  too  much  pride, 
if  I  am  humbly  born,  to  pledge  the  grateful  offering  of  the  spirit's  fealty 
at  the  summons  of  a  mortal  like  myself,"  said  Christie,  sternly. 

The  smiling  eyes  of  the  lady  apologized  for  the  curling  lip." 

"  Enough,  sir.     Whom  have  we  here  T' 

"  One  of  the  unfortunate  tenants  of  the  Duke  of  Sunderland,  who 
has  been  so  long  without  food  that  he  cannot  stand  alone." 

"  Poor  child,"  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  deep  commiseration. 

"  Withhold  your  sympathy,  madam;  the  most  illustrious  of  the 
guests,  who  are  now  enjoying  the  festivities  of  yonder  castle,  can 
boast  of  at  least  a  score  of  human  beings  who  are  dying,  literally 
dying  of  starvation  ;  and  they  will  soon  thank  God  at  the  near  ap 
proach  of  death,  unless  her  grace,  the  Duchess,  with  the  assistance 
of  the  charitable  ladies  who  meet  at  Stratford  House  for  the  pur- 


94:  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

pose  of  ostentatiously  displaying  their  benevolence,  should,  at  a 
sufficiently  early  day,  succeed  in  ameliorating1  the  condition  of  the 
whole  world  beside,  when  she  may,  possibly,  find  time  to  direct  her 
benevolent  eyes  to  the  appalling  situation  of  her  own  peasantry. 
While  there  is  a  foreign  subject,  however,  upon  which  her  charities 
can  be  expended  in  a  way  to  arrest  attention  and  command  ap 
plause,  she  will  not  be  able  to  discover  the  miserable  condition  of 
her  own  tenants.  Her  grace's  moral  eyesight  possesses  the  rare 
faculty  of  only  coming  to  a  focus  beyond  the  limits  of  Europe.  So 
nearly  parallel  are  its  rays,  that  domestic  suffering  never  meets  with 
domestic  alms." 

The  boy  moaned. 

"  I  caw  carry  you  to  the  gig  ;  it  is  only  a  few  steps  now.  I  hope 
your  ladyship  will  pardon  me  for  trespassing  upon  the  grounds  of 
Earl  Rossmore." 

"  Yes." 

"  Good-night,  madam." 

"  Good-night." 

Raising  the  child  in  his  arms  Christie  Kane  proceeded  down  the 
road,  and  his  form  was  soon  lost  amidst  the  shrubbery  that  over 
hung  the  way. 

"  An  implacable  enemy  of  our  class,"  said  Katharine  Montague, 
as  she  retraced  her  steps  to  the  castle. 

jj*.  The  grounds  in  front  of  the  castle  were  thronged  by  the  retain 
ers  of  the  houses  of  Sunderland  and  Montague,  and  the  peasantry 
of  the  surrounding  estates.  The  most  healthy  portion  of  the  popu 
lation  were  out;  and  as  Lord  Rossmore  had  ordered  tables  to  be 
loaded  with  food  beneath  the  trees,  gayety  prevailed  without  as 
well  as  within  the  castle.  He  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  lib 
eral  and  kind  of  the  English  aristocracy,  and  he  was,  consequently, 
very  popular  wiih  the  substratum,  the  country  round.  He  had  suf 
ficient  tact  to  comprehend  that  such  gorgeous  displays  as  were  now 
witnessed  in  the  castle  of  Montague,  if  not  participated  in  by  the 
substratum,  might  occasion  heart-burnings,  if  not  disaffection.  He 
knew  how  easily  they  were  satisfied,  and  wisely  conceded  some 
thing  to  natural  prejudice  by  giving  an  humble  entertainment  upon 
the  greensward,  which  proved  quite  as  satisfactory  to  them  as  the 
display  within  the  castle  did  to  his  courtly  guests.  With  two  vio 
lins  and  abundance  to  eat,  the  few  might  for  them  rule  the  world. 
And  Lord  Rossmore  knew  it. 

Among  the  happiest  and  most  grateful  of  the  out-door  guests 
was  Mr.  Phelim  Savor.  Phelim  was  ordinarily  blessed  with  un 
quenchable  good  nature  ;  but  a  well-lined  jacket  added  surprisingly 
to  his  facetiousness.  It  created  a  well  of  thankfulness  that  he  con 
sidered  inexhaustible,  and  he,  therefore,  drew  largely  from  it. 

Phelim  was  the  centre  of  an  admiring  circle,  and  he  proceeded 
to  expatiate  largely  upon  popular  themes,  for  Mr.  Savor  possessed 
enough  sagacity  to  know,  that  to  become  a  favorite,  one  must  never 
broach  unpleasant  subjects.  He  therefore  enlarged  upon  the  gen 
erosity  of  Lord  Rossmore  for  his  bounty,  which  he  was  then 
availing  himself  of  to  an  extent  that  a  strict  regard  for  truth  will 
not  justify  us  in  pronouncing  moderate.  •  Having,  after  the  manner 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  95 

of  more  literary  and  refined  gentlemen,  expressed  his  gratitude  to 
his  entertainer,  (which  elsewhere  is  manifested  by  personal  lauda 
tion  of  the  host,  or  in  extravagant  praises  of  what  he  may  have  in 
vented,  or  may  have  to  sell,  or,  as  by  no  means  is  unfrequently  the 
case,  may  have  prepared  for  the  benefit  of  the  travelling  public) 
for  his  liberal  hospitality,  he  launched  off  into  praises  of  Christie 
Kane,  the  hero  of  the  steeple-chase.  As  Christie  belonged  not 
exactly  to  their  set,  but  to  a  few  shades,  only,  above  it,  he  was 
deemed  worthy  of  almost  as  much  applause  as  Earl  Rossmore,  and 
if  the  occasion  had  been  any  other  than  one  which  displayed  the 
Earl's  generosity,  and  therefore  awakened  their  gratitude  to  an  un 
usual  degree,  the  name  of  Christie  Kane  would  have  been  wel 
comed  more  enthusiastically  than  any  other. 

"  Fill  yez  glasses,"  said  the  cheerful  voice  of  Mr.  Savor  ;  "  wid 
the  permission  of  the  gintleman  beyant,  whose  iligant  spach  have 
been  so  properly  and  purposely  praised,  I  will  prayface  me  last 
toast  wid  a  sintiment  which  will,  as  Sir  William  Belthoven  says, 
meet  wid  univirsal  approbation  ;  bekase.  as  Sir  William  says,  it 
will  be  unmeasurably  liked.  Christie  Kane,  the  gintleman — the 
humble  gintleman" — (added  Mr.  Savor,  upon  perceiving  the  word 
gintleman  was  not  well  received  by  his  audience,  and  he  had 
learned  from  Sir  William  that  offensive  remarks  were  to  be  avoided) 
"  who  so  significantly  triumphed  over  the  nobility  beyant  at  the 
steeple  chase,  is  me  imployer."  Phelim  paused  when  he  announced 
the  relative  position  of  the  idol  of  the  hour  and  himself;  a  position 
that  in  fact  consisted  of  service  upon  the  one  side  for  the  consider 
ation  of  very  plain  fare,  and  no  wages  on  the  other.  Phelim  did 
not  attempt  to  be  accurate  as  to  terms ;  he  only  wanted  to  apprise 
his  hearers  that  he  was  something  more  than  an  ordinary  acquain 
tance  of  the  victorious  horseman.  In  this  respect  Phelim  Savor 
followed  the  example  of  thousands  who  are  satisfied  with  reflecting 
the  honors  that  are  showered  upon  favorites  by  merely  knowing 
them  and  being  seen  in  their  presence  ;  a  common  failing,  by  the 
way,  of  sapheads  in  general,  who  are  conscious  that  the  observa 
tion  of  the  curious  can  be  won  by  no  other  process. 

"  Be  rayson  of  me  faymiliarity  wid  Mr.  Christie  Kane,"  contin 
ued  Mr.  Savor,  after  an  impressive  and  significant  pause,  "  I  can 
spake  understandingly,  as  Sir  William  Belthoven  says,  maning 
thereby,  under  the  comprehinsion  of  the  fraymen  ;  a  bootiful  fagure 
of  spache.  Mr.  Kane  is  proud  of  his  success  to-day,  bekase  he 
balongs  to  the  poor  divils  (three  vociferous  cheers)  who  give  the 
nobility  money  to  display  their  extravagance,  as  they  are  doing  this 
blissid  night  in  yon  castle,  (scowling  visages  were  directed  to  the 
illuminated  building)  an'  enable  Lord  Rossmore  to  give  us  a  mag- 
nificint  intertainmint  like  a  noble  gintleman  as  he  is.  (Earl  Ross- 
more  was  loudly  cheered.)  Yez  say  its  kind  in  the  aristocracy  to 
ba  afther  lettin'  us  enjoy  a  sight  of  steeple  chases  and  balls,  for 
empty  stomachs  don't  feel  half  so  bad  for  siveral  days,  bekase  whin 
the  mind  runs  fernenst  a  jolly  time,  its  amazin'  how  it  takes  one's 
thoughts  from  temporal  affairs.  Some  discontinted  divils  thry  to 
make  us  belave  we  are  human  beings,  and  hiv  right*,  nathural  rights, 
aquil  tul  the  proudest  nobleman  in  England.  But  don't  we  all 


90  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

know  they  are  unrasonable  spalpeens  ?  Jist  look  at  Arthur  Wel 
lington  William  Pitt  Smithers,  yonder,  wid  his  knees  through  his 
pantaloons,  thrying  till  scrape  acquaintance  wid  his  elbows,  which 
are  in  the  same  predicament,  as  yez  will  obsarve.  Now  will  ony 
man  say  that  Mr.  Smithers  is  a  human  baing  to  the  same  extint 
as  Earl  Rossmore  ?" 

"  No  !  no  !"  and  derisive  laughter. 

"  Of  koorse  not.  Thin  Arthur  Wellington  William  Pitt  Smith 
ers  must  be  thrated  accordin.  He  can't  expict  onything  but  savare 
labor  for  thim  as  has  more  naturaller  rights  thin  himsilf.  If  he 
was  a  human  baing  tul  the  same  extint  as  thim  blissid  aristocracy 
up  yonder,  we  would  all  work  and  toil  and  sweat  for  Smithera  as 
charefully  as  we  would  for  ony  other  superior  baing." 

"  How  do  you  make  it  out  that  they  are  superior  beings,  Mr.  Sa 
vor  ?"  asked  a  voice  in  the  crowd. 

"  How  do  I  make  it  out  ?  There's  an  ignoramus  for  yez  !  Don't 
we  labor  and  suffer,  and  don't  they  laugh  and  enjoy  thimselves 
Ain't  we  ragged  1  ain't  they  well  clad  ?  Ain't  we  hungry  ?  ain't 
they  well  fed  ?  Ain't  they  bootiful  ?  ain't  we  ugly  as  sin,  especi 
ally  yezsilf?  How  do  I  make  it  out  ?"  quoted  Phelim  indignantly  ; 
"  don't  the  blissid  prastes,  whin  they  cancel  ony  little  rascalities 
we  hev  committed,  tell  us  obadience'to  the  laws  is  the  nixt  thing 
in  importance  to  paying  the  tithes  ?  Begorra,  the  gintilman  who 
axed  that  question  must  be  a  heretic  who  has  niver  been  blissid 
wid  the  pardonin'  power  of  the  prastes — Jong  life  tul  thim  and  may 
they  ba  long  spared  to  open  the  hivenly  gates  for  poor  divils  to  en 
ter — or  been  fayvored  with  the  illegant  diskoorse  of  Sir  William 
Belthoven.  Didn't  that  distinguished  parliamentary  man  tell  the 
fraymen  the  day  afther  he  was  elected  whin  they  coome  to  con 
gratulate  him,  that  obadience  to  the  government  was  the  best  koorse 
for  them  tul  pursue,  and  that  they  must  not  expict  much  from  the 
government,  bekase  the  government  had  all  it  could  do  tul  take 
care  of  itself,  and  that  if  they  obayed  the  laws,  paid  the  rint  and 
the  tithes,  and  all  other  taxes,  and  conducted  thimselves  as  orderly 
citizens,  the  government  would  be  satisfied,  and  would  not  molest 
thim,  unless  it  wer  nicessary  to  hiv  their  sirvices  in  foreign  parts, 
whin  they  would  be  fayvoored  by  a  visit  from  the  press-gang, 
whose  praysadings  would  be  very  quiet  and  orderly.  One  ongrate- 
ful  spalpeen  said  it  wer  his  opinion  that  foreign  parts  claimed  too 
much  attintion,  bekase  the  philanthropists  were  neglicting  the  poor 
white  people  here  to  send  money  tul  the  niggers,  and  the  govern 
ment  wer  stealin'  white  people  to  send  off  to  Africa  to  prevent  nig 
gers  baing  stolen,  and  it  seemed  to  him  the  niggers  wer  considered 
more  of  gintilmen  than  himsilf.  By  the  holy  St.  Pathrick,  but  yez 
ought  to  hiv  sane  how  they  hustled  him  out,  an  ongrateful  boogger 
as  he  manifisted  himsilf.  But — " 

"Mr.  Savor,  don't  you  think  you  had  better  let  us  drink  your 
toast  and  conclude  your  speech  afterwards.  Eloquence  has  made 
us  very  dry,  down  here,"  said  a  voice  from  the  lower  end  of  the 
table. 

"  I  returns  me  thanks  to  the  gintleman  for  the  compliment," 
observed  Mr.  Savor,  bowing.  "  Allow  me  to  propose  the  health 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  97 

and  happiness  of  me  employer,  Mr.  Christie  Kane,  who  niver  car 
ries  two  faces  under  one  hat.'1 

The  sentiment  was  drank  with  all  the  honors,  and  by  none  with 
a  deeper  expression  of  regard,  than  by  Mr.  Phelim  Savor  himself, 
who  imbibed  the  grateful  beverage  so  freely  that  his  ideas  became 
rather  confused,  and  he  did  not  feel  altogether  equal  to  the  work  of 
continuing  his  brilliant  discourse. 

The  company  began  to  leave  the  castle,  and  soon  with  that  un 
accountable  apprehension  of  being  last — which  is  almost  as  much 
dreaded  as  being  first — the  gay  throng  bid  adieu  to  their  hospitable 
entertainers,  and  the  castle  was  deserted,  save  by  those  guests 
who  were  to  remain  all  night  beneath  its  roof. 

Following  the  example  of  the  aristocracy,  that  portion  of  the 
Earl's  company  who  had  been  enjoying  themselves  where  there 
was  plenty  of  air,  also  withdrew  ;  prompted,  however,  by  the  an 
nunciation  that  the  gates  were  to  be  closed,  rather  than  by  an  ap 
prehension  of  being  last,  which  we  are  bound  to  admit  would,  in  a 
considerable  number  of  cases,  have  been  deemed  a  consummation 
devoutly  to  be  wished,  in  view  of  sundry  bottles  of  liquor  yet 
uncorked. 

The  moon  was  hiding  her  roguish  smile  behind  the  trees ;  the 
stars  were  slily  winking,  and  the  gentle  breeze  was  rustling  the 
green  foliage.  Katharine  Montague  leaned  from  the  casement. 
Her  cheeks  were  still  flushed  with  excitement,  and  her  disheveled 
hair  fell  to  her  feet.  How  much  happier  was  the  accomplished, 
beautiful,  and  idolized  daughter  of  that  illustrious  house  than  those 
who  made  themselves  miserable  by  envying  her  lot !" 

"  We  all  have  our  troubles"  she  sighed,  as  she  closed  the  case 
ment. 

How  many  of  the  sorrowful  and  harassed  pilgrims  to  the  other 
world  can  repeat  her  language,  as  they  toil  along  the  dreary  path 
way  of  life,  across  which  despondency  would  cast  its  dark  shadow, 
if  it  was  not  dispelled  by  rays  from  the  lighthouse  of  hope  ] 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  "Who  dare  confide  in  right  or  a  just  claim  ?" — GOETHE. 

IT  was  with  a  heart  bursting  with  grief  that  Henry  Kane  re 
turned  from  the  meeting  at  Dexeter  Hall.  His  hopes  had  been 
raised  to  such  a  height  before  he  entered  the  edifice  dedicated  to  the 
cause  of  foreign  charities  with  loudly  proclaimed  asseverations  of 
domestic  piety  and  abstinence  from  all  sinful  desires  or  gratifications, 
that  now,  when  he  was  convinced  they  would  not  stoop  from  their 
exalted  situation  to  his  lowly  condition,  the  reaction  in  his  feelings 
made  him  very  miserable.  He  could  not  eat  the  pittance  his  mo 
ther  had  kept  for  him,  and  he  was  glad  of  it,  too,  for  both  his  mo 
ther  and  Dolly  looked  as  though  they  were  very  hungry. 

"  But  you  must  eat,  Henry,  indeed  you  must,  or  you  will  be 
sick." 


98  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  I  cannot,  ma,  I  am  so  full  here,"  and  he  clasped  his  throat  with 
his  hands. 

"  Do,  oo  feel  sick,  Henry  ?"  said  Dolly,  taking  his  hand. 

"  Not  very,  Dolly,  only  I  can't  eat.  Here,  take  the  bread  ;  eat 
it  yourself,  Dolly." 

"  No,  ise  wont."     But  she  eyed  it  wistfully. 

"  Yes,  you  must." 

"No." 

"  But  1  don't  want  it,  Dolly." 

"Don't,  oo?"     ••'•* •-• 

"  No." 

"  Pon  zoo  honor  ?" 

"  No,"  he  said,  smiling. 

"Take  half  of  it,  then." 

And  she  broke  the  hard  piece  of  bread,  with  great  difficulty,  and 
gave  him  the  largest  part. 

"  Ma,  why  don't  you  write  to  grandma,  and  tell  her  all  about  our 
condition  ?" 

"I  have." 

"  And  what  did  she  say  ?"  he  inquired,  eagerly. 

"  That  they  had  been  turned  from  home  by  their  landlord." 

"  And  could  not  help  us." 

"No." 

He  reflected  a  few  moments. 

"  Ma,  I'll  tell  you  what  I  must  do,"  he  said,  resolutely. 

"What?" 

"  Go  and  get  employment  in  a  weaving  establishment." 

"  At  your  tender  age — it  is  impossible." 

"  Oh  no,  it  ain't ;  there's  ever  so  many  little  boys,  and  little  girls, 
too,  no  bigger  than  I  am,  who  work  there." 

"  But  what  good  would  it  do  ?" 

"  I  heard  'em  say  a  smart,  little  boy  could  earn  six  or  seven 
pence  a  day,  and  that,  you  know,  would  buy  us  a  loaf  of  bread ; 
and  I  will  be  so  smart,  I  am  sure  I  shall  please  them." 

"  And  ruin  your  health  at  the  same  time,"  responded  Mrs.  Kane, 
sadly. 

"  Better  that  than  starve,  ain't  it?  I  shall  stand  it  bravely,  for  I 
shall  think  all  day  long  how  happy  it  will  make  Dolly  to  eat  the 
bread  I  bring  home  to  her  at  night." 

She  pressed  him  silently  in  her  arms. 

"And  if  I  do  that  nobody  can  call  me  a  beggar,  as  that  bad  offi 
cer  did.  You  will  let  me  try,  won't  you,  ma  ?" 

"  Yes,  you  may  try,"  she  said. 

"  Thank  you,  dear  ma — to-morrow  ?" 

There  was  a  brief  struggle  in  her  mind  at  the  idea  of  having  his 
tender  form  so  soon  tested  by  hard  labor.  He  observed  her  work 
ing  countenance. 

"  I  shall  be  very  miserable  and  unhappy  if  you  refuse." 

"Well,  well,  you  may  go  to-morrow — yes,  to-morrow." 

His  countenance  lighted  up  with  as  much  pleasure,  as  if  her  con 
sent  had  exempted  him  from  every  care  little  people  are  in  the 
habit  of  thinking  their  parents  concoct,  with  a  great  deal  of  inge- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  99 

nuity  and  no  small  amount  of  labor,  for  their  particular  and  indi 
vidual  annoyance. 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  day,  Henry  Kane  sallied  forth  with  a 
clean  face,  and  in  the  clothes  that  had  but  one  patch  upon  them, 
and  that  one  neither  upon  the  seat,  nor  paid  for  by  the  public  as  a 
judicial  and,  therefore,  necessary  expenditure.  He  sought  no  ad 
venture,  like  the  worthy  knight,  Don  Quixote  ;  but  his  stomach, 
poor  boy,  was  as  destitute  of  food  as  that  redoubtable  champion's 
head  was  of  brains.  No  ;  the  lad  set  forth  with  hopeful  feelings  in 
search  of  the  practical,  unromantic  employment  of  a  wheel-spinner, 
that  he  might  contribute,  in  a  small  way,  to  the  support  of  his  des 
titute  family.  What  an  example  did  he  set  to  the  youth  who  live 
only  for  pleasure,  without  bestowing  a  thought  upon  those  who  are 
less  fortunate,  or  pausing  to  raise  their  eyes  for  a  moment  to  Heav 
en  in  thankfulness  for  every  earthly  blessing  !  Faint  with  hunger, 
he  threaded  the  streets,  only  kept  from  sinking  in  despair  upon  the 
ground  by  a  sense  of  duty.  He  passed  confectionery  shops,  where 
cakes  and  fruits  were  temptingly  displayed ;  refectories  from  which 
issued  the  smell  of  beef  and  the  aroma  of  coffee  ;  into  these  he  cast 
wistful,  but  momentary  glances,  and  sped  onwards.  Passers  by 
noticed  his  pale  cheeks  ;  yet  the  sight  was  so  common  in  London 
that  they  did  not  proclaim  it  a  novelty  by  turning  their  heads.  One 
boy,  trimly  dressed,  and  who  had  evidently  been  favored  by  some 
liberal  person  with  an  extravagant  amount  of  pennies,  judging  from 
the  artillery  of  rolls,  the  magazine  of  cakes,  and  the  embankment 
of  candies  with  which  his  person  was  fortified,  spied  Henry  from 
afar  off.  As  they  approached  each  other,  the  stranger  sidled  away, 
not  that  he  supposed  the  pale  child  wras  about  to  forage  upon  his 
possessions,  but  only  to  obtain  a  more  accurate  survey  of  his  per 
son.  His  jaws  moved  less  and  less  rapidly  as  they  neared  one  an 
other,  until,  as  Henry  was  passing  him,  they  altogether  ceased  mas 
ticating  the  compound  of  cake,  bread,  and  candies,  with  which  his 
mouth  was  distended  to  its  greatest,  not  to  say  its  most  alarming 
capacity.  Whether  there  was  something  in  the  emaciated  appear 
ance  of  the  wan  face  that  excited  his  compassion,  or  whether  the 
superabundance  of  good  things  with  which  he  had  supplied  himself, 
had  enlarged  his  sympathies  as  they  had  his  stomach,  and  made  him 
desirous  of  imparting  something  of  the  superabundance,  as  a  new 
convert  does  that  blessed  religion  which  is  more  than  enough  for 
his  own  bliss,  will  to  the  latest  time  remain  unexplained.  Either 
the  emaciated  appearance  of  Henry,  or  the  world  of  good  things 
which  the  stranger  possessed,  one  or  the  other,  or  both,  prompted 
him  to  advance  a  step  and  make  earnest  gesticulations.  Henry 
stood  still,  while  his  eyes  followed  the  bread  which  the  other  was 
flourishing  diligently  in  default  of  speech,  for  his  mouth  seemed  to 
be  hermetically  sealed  by  the  compound  there  imprisoned.  Find 
ing  that  the  gesticulations  did  not  have  the  effect  of  expressing  his 
charitable  desires,  he  thrust  the  bread  into  Henry's  hand,  articulat 
ing  at  the  same  time  with  manifest  difficulty. 

"  Take  it." 

The  face  of  Henry  was  crimsoned  in  a  moment,  as  he  drew 
back.  He  had  never  taken  alms. 


100  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  Do  take  it,"  said  the  other  in  a  kind  voice.  "  You  look  BO 
pale  and  thin.  Come,  I've  got  ever  so  much  beside,  and  see  all 
the  pennies  too." 

Henry  took  the  bread. 

"  I  am  sure  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you,"  he  said,  grate 
fully. 

""You're  welcome.     Here,  take  this  roll  too." 

Henry  looked  surprised  at  his  generosity. 

kt  Oh,  I've  eaten  enough  myself,  I  couldn't  swallow  as  much  as 
would  choke  a  mouse." 

The  child  thought  of  the  hungry  ones  at  home,  and  he  put  the 
roll  in  his  pocket,  and  then  he  thanked  the  good  boy  again,  and 
then  he  walked  along  more  briskly  than  ever.  The  sun  seemed  t 
shine  more  brightly,  and  the  faces  of  all  the  people  he  met  looked 
more  cheerful,  and  he  turned  his  head  to  catch  one  more  glimpse 
of  the  kind  stranger,  who  was  still  watching  him,  with  a  pleasant 
consciousness  that  he  had  made  him  happier  than  he  was  before. 

Henry  soon  reached  the  large  weaving  establishment,  and  tim 
idly  entering  the  office,  stood  by  the  door,  with  his  hat  in  his 
hand.  One  of  the  partners  was  there,  and  seemed  to  be  in  consul 
tation  with  a  foreman  of  the  establishment.  Henry  modestly 
waited  until  their  attention  might  be  directed  to  him.  A  large 
black  Newfoundland  dog,  whose  fat  proportions  spoke  of  good  liv 
ing  and  gentle  treatment,  regarded  the  child  with  sleepy  eyes,  and 
seemed  to  be  in  doubt  whether  he  was,  in  fact,  a  veritable  boy,  or 
the  huge  form  of  the  mastiff,  that  had  been  troubling  his  dreams. 
After  a  long  examination,  during  which,  judging  from  a  growl, 
he  had  a  reasonable — or  rather  an  instinctive,  conviction  that  the 
identical  mastiff  was  then  and  there  present,  and  that  too,  in  a 
most  offensive  position.  When  this  impression  had  ripened  into 
certainty,  the  shaggy  monster  was  not  long  in  defining  his  position. 
Without  attempting  to  disguise  his  purposes  with  gracious  and 
complimentary  notes,  intended  only  to  deceive,  such  as  our  re 
nowned  diplomatists  are  accustomed  to  write  to  each  other,  the 
gallant  Newfoundlander  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  without  any  more 
formal  declaration  of  hostilities  than  a  bark,  prepared  to  repulse  the 
enemy  from  his  territory.  No  sooner,  however,  had  he  thus  pro 
claimed  his  ultimatum,  and  that  too  with  a  dog-matical  resolution 
to  enforce  it — an  example  which  might  be  appropriately  followed 
by  certain  crowned  heads — than  he  was  apprised  of  the  futility  of 
even  canine  opinions.  If  his  warlike  preparations  were  unhesita 
tingly  made,  no  one,  not  even  the  Emperor  of  France,  could  ex 
press  more  undisguised  satisfaction,  that  peace  could  be  preserved 
upon  honorable  terms.  If  one  could  not  brook  a  continental  war 
that  would  light  the  fires  of  a  revolution,  which  must  turn  up  the 
rotten  foundations  of  despotic  governments,  because  his  sympathies 
were  aroused  for  those  who  might  fall  in  a  conflict  that  must  give 
freedom  to  Europe,  the  other  could  not  visit  that  indignation  upon 
a  poor  little  boy,  which  might  rightfully  be  poured  out  upon  the 
head  of  an  offending  mastiff.  So  he  walked  up  to  Henry  with  a 
separate  and  distinct  proclamation  of  neutrality  in  each  wag  of  his 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  101 

tail,  and  the  offer  of  an  alliance  offensive   ahti  defensive  'hi'  every 
glance  from  his  good-natured  eyes. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?"  said  the  partner,  as  he  surveyed  Henry 
over  his  spectacles — those  lighthouses  standing  out  upon  the  nose, 
as  a  disregarded  warning  that  he  was  rapidly  approaching  the  great 
port  to  which  his  sea-beaten  craft  had  directed  her  course  for 
more  than  half  the  brief  period  allotted  for  a  passage  from  time  to 
eternity. 

"  Please,  sir,  I  want  employment." 

"  Employment !  It  seems  to  me  all  the  brats  in  London  come 
to  me  for  employment." 

Perhaps  they  can't  find  it  anywhere  else  ?" 

"  Hity,  tity  !  and  if  they  could,  I  suppose  they  would  not  come 
here;  eh?" 

Henry  was  grieved  to  think  he  had  made  a  disagreeable  remark, 
and  he  was  silent,  not  knowing  what  to  say. 

"  Hey  !  is  that  it1?" 
I  don't  know,  sir,  only  I  didn't  mean  to  offend  you." 

''  Didn't  you  ?  Well,  1  should  not  think  it  would  be  worth  your 
while  to  do  it,  if  you  think  of  working  for  me  !  Hey,  Dykeman  ?" 

"  No." 

"  Hear  that,  you  little  spawn  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Well,  what  can  you  do  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  am  willing  to  do  anything." 

"  And  how  much  will  you  give  me  to  learn  you  to  do  something 
for  yourself?" 

Henry  was  appalled,  for  a  moment. 

"  Give  you,  sir?  I've  not  got  one  single  penny  in  the  world.  I 
am  very  poor." 

"  I  do  not  see  how  you  could  well  be  more  so  ;  do  you,  Dyke 
man  ?" 

"  No." 

"  You  don't  expect  me  to  pay  you  anything,  do  you  ?"  he  asked 
in  a  voice  calculated  to  make  Henry  believe  that  such  expectations 
were  little  less  criminal  than  theft. 

But  despair  was  not  to  be  put  down  by  looks,  or  words  either. 

"I  must  have  money,  sir." 

"  You  must ;  why  ?" 

"  Because  if  I  don't,  my  little  sister  and  little  brother,  and 
mother  too,  will  starve  !" 

"  The  old  story,  Dykeman." 

"Yes." 

"  The  same." 

"  Yes.  Poor  people  will  persist  in  the  foolish  idea  that  if  they 
don't  eat  they  must  die  !" 

'Preposterous  notion  !" 

'  Monstrous  !" 

'  Especially  when  bread  is  scarce." 

'And  potatoes  have  the  rot." 

'  How  much  do  you  expect  a  day  ?"  said  the  commiserate  Mr. 
Greasebeans,  for  he  was  no  less  a  personage  than  the  President  of 


10J  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

t'ne  Dexeter  Hall  jAsso«ia*i'otf,  for  the  Amelioration,  &c.,  &c.,  of 
the  African  Negroes,  &c.,  &c.,  and  the  American  Slave,  &c.,  &c. 
"  I  hope  seven  pence  a  day  will  not  be  too  much1?"  said  Henry, 
alarmed  at  the  magnitude  of  the  amount,  as  he  mentioned  it. 
"  Think  of  that,  Dykeman  !" 
"  Yes." 

"  Sevenpence  a  day  !" 
"A  day!" 
"  Ain't  they  coming  to  it"r" 

"Fast!" 

"They  have  no  consciences." 

"  Nor  bowels,  except  for  food." 

"  You  may  think  yourself  fortunate  if  I  give  you  three,"  said 
the  charitable  Mr.  Greasebeans,  who  had  subscribed  five  hundred 
pounds  at  the  recent  meeting  at  Dexeter  Hall,  to  aid  the  cause  of 
Emancipation  in  the  United  States. 

"  Then  I  can't  work  for  you,"  said  Henry  sadly,  as  he  put  on 
his  hat  and  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  Well,  how  little  will  you  take  T'  inquired  Mr.  Greasebeans ; 
"  come,  now,  if  we  make  your  work  light ;"  and  he  winked  at 
Dykeman,  a  freedom  totally  at  variance  with  the  orderly  and  well- 
regulated  features,  such  as  the  president  of  a  renowned  society 
might  be  supposed  to  possess. 

Henry  recollected  that  his  mother  had  expressed  her  anxiety 
about  his  health,  and  he  was  grateful,  therefore,  to  Mr.  Greasebeans 
for  the  intimation  that  he  would  make  his  work  light.  He  hesitated 
for  a  few  moments,  and  then  he  thought  he  would  come  down  a 
penny,  and  that  was  a  great  deal  to  him. 

And  he  told  him  so. 

"  Sixpence  !  Do  you  hear  that,  Dykeman  V 

u  Yes." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  such  exorbitant  demands  V' 

"  Never." 

"  The  world  is  surely  coming  to  an  end  !" 

"  On  fire  now  !" 

"  Where  ?"  exclaimed  Greasebeans,  in  evident  alarm. 

"  Deep  down  in  the  earth,  so  the  geologers  say." 

"  Pshaw  !" 

"  Nonsense  !" 

"  I'll  give  you  fivepence,  boy." 

Henry  again  moved  towards  the  door,  and  the  rich  man,  think 
ing  that  he  had  chaffered  long  enough  with  human  misery,  not  only 
to  satisfy  his  partners  of  his  business  sagacity,  but  also  to  maintain 
his  own  reputation  in  tact,  finally  agreed  to  give  Henry  the  liberal 
sum  of  sixpence  a  day,  adding  sternly — 

"  But  recollect,  I  have  bought  your  time,  youngster,  from  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning  until  seven  at  night." 

"  So  many  hours  as  that  T'  asked  the  child  falteringly. 

"  Yes,  every  moment  of  it.  For  that  time  you  are  sold  to  me. 
If  you  come  one  minute  too  late  it  will  be  theft ;  do  you  under 
stand  theft  ?" 

For  a  moment  he  thought  of  giving  up  the  place  at  once,  but 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  10g 

then  the  images  of  his  mother  and  Dolly  and  Frank  Tot  rose  up 
before  him. 

4"  Yes,  I  will  do  it." 
'  Very  well,  now  you  may  go." 

Henry  left  the  office,  and  then  he  thought  the  time  for  receiving 
his  wages  had  not  been  fixed,  and  he  returned,  honestly  wishing 
that  there  might  be  no  mistake. 

"  Please,  sir,  you  will  pay  me  the  sixpence  every  night,  won't 
you?"- 

"  Do  you  hear  that,  Dykeman  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Is  it  not  too  outrageous  ?" 

"  I  told  you  they  would  persist  in  not  letting  their  stomachs  grow 
up,"  replied  Dykeman  cynically. 

"Must  I  humor  him?" 

"  I  suppose  so,  unless  you  can  make  him  believe  it  is  just  as 
agreeable  and  quite  as  well  in  the  long  run,  to  fast  for  a  month  or 
through  one  quarter,  as  it  is  to  eat.  And  I  do  not  know  why  you 
should  not,  for  you  accomplish  things  in  a  money-making  way  al 
most  as  difficult." 

;i  He  !  he  !  he  !"  shrieked  the  delighted  Mr.  Greasebeans.  The 
compliment  of  Dykeman  had  evidently  expanded  the  heart  of  his 
patron,  for  that  individual  said  with  an  expression  of  benevolence 
upon  his  features — 

"  Yes,  my  little  man,  you  shall  receive  the  total  amount  of  six 
pence  each  day." 

-  "  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Henry,  and  he  went  home  very  hap 
py  to  think  he  had  obtained  a  situation  where  he  could  get  sixpence 
a  day  to  support  his  family  and  pay  the  house  rent,  and  for  which 
he  only  had  to  task  his  strength  fourteen  hours  a  day,  and  that,  too, 
in  the  service  of  a  person  who  had  written  his  name  upon  the 
record  of  humanity  in  unmistakable  characters  by  his  liberality  in 
the  crusade  of  Abolition.  A  crusade  which  sought  to  improve  the 
condition  of  young  negroes  who,  at  the  age  when  Henry  had  sold 
himself  to  work  fourteen  hours  a  day  for  sixpence,  were  scamper 
ing  unchecked  in  their  playgrounds,  or  earning  double  that  sum  by 
holding  "  Massa's  horse." 


CHAPTER  XL 

"  To  whom  with  dark  displeasure  Jove  replied  : 
Base  and  side-shifting  traitor  !  vex  not  me 
Here  silting  querulous  ;    of  all  who  dwell 
On  the  Olympian  heights,  thee  most  I  hate 
Contentious,  whose  delight  is  war  aloue."  —  HOMEE. 


IT  was  a  severe  trial  for  Henry  Kane  to  get  up  every  morning 
at  four  o'clock,  for  it  took  an  hour  to  eat  his  breakfast,  and  get  to 
the  factory  at  five.  An  hour  was  allowed  at  dinner,  so  that  in 
making  up  his  complement  of  fourteen  hours,  he  could  not  start 
upon  his  return  until  eight.  A-great  many  children  were  employed 


104  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

in  the  same  room  with  him,  all  of  them  engaged  in  the  laborious 
task  of  turning  wheels.     That  it  required  too  much  exertion  for 
their  strength  was  proved  hy  the  deformed  limbs,  that  had  hecome 
misshapen  under  the  ordeal.     Crooked  legs,  uneven  hips,  arms  out 
of  all  proportion,  round  shoulders,  and  bent  heads,  that  presented 
upon  their  little   bodies  the  most  quaint,  old  fashioned,  grotesque 
appearance.     To  see  them  at  work,  with  their  sad  faces  and  bent 
forms,  would  make  a  person  think  he  had  been  favored  with  one  of 
those  sights  which  were  vouchsafed  to  Gulliver,  and  which  he  re 
counts  (after  the  manner  of  the  present  day)  with  such  apparent 
truth,  in  his  "  personal  recollections."     He  would  come  to  the  con 
clusion  that  he  was  in  the  rightful  territory  of  a  nation  of  Lillipu 
tians,  and  with  all  due  speed  would  beat  a  retreat  before  "  each  in 
dividual  hair"  on  his  cranium  was  made  to  "  stand"  out  by  a  peg. 
Mr.  Dykeman  had  the  overseeing  of  this  part  of  the  establish 
ment,  and  to  do  that  functionary  justice,  he  was  by  nature  and  a 
thorough  training  sufficiently  unfeeling  to  do  credit  to  the  discipline 
of  "  Messrs  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co,"  the  successors  to  the 
celebrated  house  of  the  "  Snodgrass  Brothers,"  who  had  them 
selves  succeeded  the  "  Brothers  Snodgrass,"  business  descendants 
of  "  Snodgrass    and   Son,"  the  original  founders  of  the  establish 
ment,  and  supposed,  also,  to  have  been  the  originator  of  the  part 
nership  term  of  "  Brothers  Snodgrass,"  and  also  that  of  "  Snod 
grass  Brothers,"  a  phrase  whose  mellifluousness  of  tone  and  easy 
gracefulness  of  expression,  finds  much  favor  at  the   present  day. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  Hugh  Dykeman  had  no  more  feeling  for  human 
suffering  than  might  be  supposed  to  emanate  from  a  piece  of  leather 
that  had  undergone  the  process  of  tanning  for  seven  years.     Hugh 
prided  himself  upon  his   stolidity  ;    so   did  Messrs.   Greasebeans, 
Snodgrass  &  Co.     It  suited  him  to  annoy  the  poor  creatures  over 
whom  he  was  set  as  guard,  for  he  seemed  to  revel  in  human  suffer 
ing.     If  he  could  not,  by  taunts,  wring  tears  from  them,  he  sought 
an  opportunity,  when  overpowered  nature  took  a  few  moments  for 
rest,  to  steal  softly  up  to  the  offender  and   dash  his  raw  hide  into 
his  flesh,  and  then  he  would  laugh  gleefully,  and  rub  his  hands  as 
the  victim  danced  about  the  room.     No  galley  slave  ever  dreaded 
the  approach  of  his  task-master  more  than  that  band  of  helpless 
children  did   the  presence  of  Dykeman.     It  was  useless  to  com 
plain  to  the  proprietors,  for  he  at  once  exculpated  himself  to  their 
entire  satisfaction  by  informing  them  that  their  interests  would  be 
advanced  if  he  was  allowed  to  use  the  raw-hide  freely.     And  so 
their  lacerated  forms  continued  to  bear  evidence  that  Dykeman  still 
enjoyed  his  favorite  amusement. 

Henry  had  hitherto  escaped  the  vengeance  of  this  monster. 
This  was  probably  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  was  strong  and  reso 
lute  compared  with  those  who  had  been  longer  subjected  to  arduous 
labor.  But  after  he  had  performed  his  task  a  few  days,  his  strength 
began  to  fail  him.  He  required  more  nourishing  food  than  bread, 
which  was  all  that  now  passed  his  lips.  Exhausted  with  fatigue, 
he  had  fallen  asleep  during  the  hour  of  rest,  and  failed  to  hear  the 
bell  which  called  them  again  to  their  work.  Dykeman  saw  it,  and 
stole  on  tiptoe  with  the  rawhide  stretched  forth.  His  companions 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  105 

would  have  aroused  him,  but  for  the  ugly  frown  of  the  overseer. 
A  smile  was  upon  the  face  of  the  boy  ;  he  was  happy,  for  he  was 
dreaming  that  his  father  had  returned,  and  that  he  once  more  sat 
upon  his  knee,  and  his  mother  clasped  his  hand,  and  Dolly  sat  up 
on  the  other  knee,  and  Frank  Tot  was  cooing,  and  unraveling  whole 
bales  of  happiness  with  his  busy  little  hands.  In  the  excess  of 
his  joy  he  gently  whispered, 

"  Father,  dear  father." 

The  only  answer  was  the  rawhide,  as  it  fell  upon  his  quivering 
flesh.  Henry  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  rubbed  his  eyes. 

"  You  struck  me,  sir,"  he  said  indignantly. 

"  Yes." 

"  I'll  tell  Mr.  Greasebeans." 

"  Do,  and  then  I'll  strike  you  often." 

He  went  straight  to  the  office.  Mr.  Greasebeans  and  his  part 
ners  were  indulging  in  the  luxury  of  the  best  regalias. 

"  Please,  sir,  Mr.  Dykeman  struck  me." 

"  I  dare  say  you  deserved  it,"  replied  Mr.  Greasebeans,  as  he 
daintily  removed  the  ashes  from  the  cigar,  so  that  it  might  not  soil 
his  elegant  shirt  bosom. 

"  Nobody  ever  struck  me  afore." 

"  Probably  that  is  the  very  reason  why  the  correction  was  proper 
now.  Hey,  Snodgrass  ?" 

"  It  would  have  been  thought  so  in  the  days  of  Snodgrass 
Brothers  " 

"  And  Brothers  Snodgrass,  too  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Hear  that,  you  young  scapegrace  1" 

"  I'm  not  a  scapegrace,  sir,  and  I  don't  think  the  meeting  in 
Dexeter  Hall,  when  you  sat  in  that  big  chair,  (for  I  know  it  was 
you,  although  you  don't  look  half  so  good,  and  pious-like,  as  you 
did  then,),  thought  it  was  right  to  beat  little  boys  ;  that  is,  black 
little  boys,  and  I  don't  know  why  white  boys  ain't  as  good  as  black 
ones." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  such  impertinence,  Snodgrass  7"  said  Mr. 
Greasebeans,  with  as  much  horror  imprinted  upon  his  countenance 
as  if  a  live  negro  was  in  the  act  of  being  roasted  ;  or,  what  would 
have  been  deemed  still  more  revolting,  his  master  had  just  put  his 
initials,  in  clear  and  legible  characters,  on  his  shoulder,  with  a  red 
hot  iron,  as  slaveholders  are  convicted  of  being  constantly  in  the 
habit  of  doing,  upon  the  unimpeachable  testimony  of  Mr.  Roor 
back,  a  gentleman  whose  veracity  is  undoubted  in  the  United 
States  !  Where  any  one  can  vouch  for  the  truthfulness  of  his  state 
ments,  who  is  disposed  to  do  so. 

"  Impertinent !"  cried  Mr.  Snodgrass,  ferociously.  "  I  do  not 
know  what  you,  in  the  well-known  tenderness  of  your  disposition 
may  think  of  it,  but  I  can  tell  you  that  the  Brothers  Snodgrass 
would  have  pronounced  it  monstrous  ;  yes,  MoN-strous  !" 

"  There,  sir,  you  hear  what  my  partner,  Mr.  Snodgrass,  a 
lineal  and  business  descendant  of  the  founder  of  this  establishment, 
thinks  of  my  humanity." 

"  Ain't  I  as  good  as  a  negro  ?"          ». 

6 


106  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"Ahem!  That — that — depends  upon — circumstances — yes,  up 
on  circumstances,  youngster.  If  the  negro  is  a  slave,  you  are  not 
as  good  as  he  is,  because,  by  virtue  of  his  sufferings,  he  obtains  an 
exaltation  like  the  martyrs  of  old ;  yea,  verily,  like  unto  the  apos- 
tles.  Yah .'" 

"  If  he  is  not  a  slave  ?"  a&ked  Henry,  anxious  to  obtain  infor 
mation  from  his  excellent  master. 

"  That  depends  upon  circumstances  also.  If  you  are  both  indus 
trious,  and  bear  chastisement  without  murmuring,  I  don't  know 
why  your  skin  should  prevent  you  from  being  considered  as  good 
as  a  negro.  Hey,  Snodgrass  1" 

But  Snodgrass  was  silent ;  he  was  reflecting  upon  the  point, 
and  it  was  clear  his  mind  was  not  prepared  to  endorse  the  proposi 
tion  of  his  partner,  to  its  full  extent. 

"  Well,  /won't  be  beat,"  said  Henry  positively. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  express  yourself  in  that  way,  for  it 
not  only  interferes  with  our  admirable  discipline,  which  by  break 
ing  your  spirit,  prepares  you  for  the  position  of  servitude  so  well 
fitted  to  the  mental  conformation  of  your  class,  and  so  necessary 
to  uphold  the  government  and  aristocracy  of  England,  but  it  sets 
an  example  of  insubordination  destructive  of  all  authority  in  the 
wheel-room." 

"  I  don't  understand  half  what  you  say,  for  you  don't  talk  with 
father's  straight-forward,  plain  words  ;  but  I  won't  be  beat." 

"  I'll  speak  to  Dykeman  about  it.'* 

"  And  tell  him  not  to  strike  me  again  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Greasebeans,  I  will  work  ever  so  much 
harder  for  you  ;  that  I  will,"  said  the  child  gratefully  as  he  left 
the  office. 

"  That  lad's  spirit  must  be  broken,  Snodgrass,"  said  the  pious 
Mr.  Greasebeans,  savagely. 

"  Crushed,"  said  Dykeman,  laconically. 

"  Say  you  so  T'  replied  Mr.  Greasebeans. 

"Yes." 

"Then  I  take  it  master  Kane  will  have  an  ugly  time.  But  hark 
ye!  you  mus'n't  strike  him,  that  is,  not  yet;  his  rebellious  spirit 
will  not  brook  the  rod  ;  that  is,  not  yet  /" 

"  It  will  shortly,"  replied  Dykeman  cynically. 

"  You  understand,  I  see  :  Dykeman,  your  wages  must  be  in 
creased.  What  do  you  suppose  is  the  net  profit  per  day  on  the 
labor  of  the  sixty  boys  under  your  control  T' 

"Don't  know." 

"  Six  pounds." 

"  No !" 

"  Eighteen  hundred  pounds  a  year." 

"Incredible!" 

'  "  My  share  six  hundred  pounds ;  why,  I  can  easily  give  one  hun 
dred  pounds  for  the  purpose  of  lighting  abolition  fires  in  the  United 
States ;  and  if  (as  I  think  it  quite  probable,  owing  to  the  general 
scarcity  of  food  and  the  consequent  suffering  among  the  poor  folks) 
we  can  reduce  the  wages  of  the  boys  to  five  pence  a  day  next  year, 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  107 

I  shall  be  able  to  add  another  fifty  pounds  to  the  general  fund,  by 
way  of  a  flourish,  and  as  a  climax  to  my  generosity.  Even  now, 
there  is  but  one  person  in  the  kingdom  who  gives  so  liberally  in 
the  good  cause  as  myself,  and  that  is  old  Ned  Thoroughwort." 

"  Him  with  the  starving  tenantry  T' 

"The  same." 

"  But  what  do  you  gain  by  all  these  gifts  ;  for  I  presume  a 
shrewd  calculator  like  yourself  does  not  make  so  large  an  invest 
ment  in  charities  without  a  corresponding  return  *?" 

Mr.  Greasebeans  winked  at  Dykeman — a  proceeding  which  that 
individual,  in  the  early  days  of  their  intercourse,  supposed  to  be 
caused  by  a  nervous  affection  of  Mr.  Greasebeans's  eyesight,  for 
he  could  never  bring  himself  to  believe  so  faithful  an  observer  of 
the  ten  commandments  as  his  patron  had  the  credit  of  being,  would 
be  guilty  of  the  levity  which  a.  voluntary  contraction  of  the  eyelid 
would  indicate.  But  when  their  mutual  qualities  begat  confidence, 
Dykeman  discovered  that  both  eyes  indiscriminately  were  made  to 
express  the  sly  humor  which  abounded  in  the  conformation  of  Sol 
omon  Greasebeans.  It  was,  therefore,  with  a  consciousness  of 
something  good  coming  from  the  senior  member  of  the  establish 
ment  that  Dykeman  seated  himself  in  a  comfortable  arm-chair. 

"  I  don't  mind  telling  you,  Dykeman,  because  your  good  qualities 
have  almost  made  you  one  of  us,  and  will,  when  we  increase  the 
number  of  successors  to  the  celebrated  house  of  Snodgrass  Broth 
ers  " 

"  Successors  to  Brothers  Snodgrass,"1  interposed  Mr.  Snodgrass, 
majestically. 

"  Successors  to  Snodgrass  and  Son.  If  it  ever  does  happen,  and 
it  probably  will,  since  it  has  been  promised  every  month  for  the  last 
six  years,  I  shall  feel  duly  honored,"  observed  Dykeman,  with  an 
imperturbable  countenance. 

';  You  must  know  there  are  two  reasons  for  this  liberal  expendi 
ture.  I  have  told  you  how  important  it  is  to  advertise  our  goods. 
It  is  not  enough  that  we  have  them  to  sell,  the  world  must  know  it. 
Now  half  the  manufacturers  in  the  kingdom  do  not  know  the  im 
portance  of  advertising.  They  have  goods  to  sell,  many  of  them 
better  than  ours,  between  ourselves,  and  yet  they  cannot  imagine, 
stupid  creatures,  why  the  house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co. 

"  Successors  to  Bro ,"  interrupted  Snodgrass. 

"  Don't  interrupt  me,  Mr.  Snodgrass  ;  the  whole  world  knows 
who  our  predecessors  were.  Why,  as  I  was  saying,  the  house  of 
Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Company  is  amassing  an  immense  for 
tune,  while  they  are  doing  nothing.  Now  the  secret  of  the  whole 
matter  lies  in  a  nut-shell  ;  buyers  have  found  out  that  we  have 
goods  to  sell.  And  how  do  you  suppose  they  found  it  out?  I'll 
tell  you.  Whenever  my  name  was  announced  as  president  of  the 
Dexeter  Hall  Society,  or  as  a  patron  of  the  abolition  cause,  I  man 
aged  to  have  added  thereto,  '  senior  member  of  the  great  house  of 
Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co '  " 

"  Successors  to  Brothers  Snod ,"  interrupted  Mr.  Snodgrass. 

"  Mr.  Snodgrass,  if  7  am  to  relate  the  modus  operand!  of  our 


108  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

system  (and  which,  with  all  due  respect  for  Brothers  Snodgrass, 
Snodgrass  Brothers,  or  Snodgrass  and  Son,  would  never  have  been 
conceived  if  I  had  not  become  a  member  of  the  firm),  you  will 
please  remain  silent.  I  was  going  to  say,  Mr.  Dykeman,"  continued 
Mr.  Greasebeans,  with  his  stateliest  manner,  "  when  I  was  inter 
rupted — I  must  be  allowed  to  say,  and  will  say/  disrespectfully  in 
terrupted,  that  I  always  managed  to  have  the  name,  style,  and 
place  of  business — place  of  business,  you  understand,  Mr.  Dykeman 
— the  street,  the  number  of  the  street  where  our  establishment  is 
situated,  inserted  after  my  own  name,  so  that  it  read  something  in 
this  way,  *  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by,'  or  '  This  munifi 
cent  donation  was  made  by  Solomon  Greasebeans,  senior  member 
of  the  celebrated  house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co '  " 

"  Formerly  Brothers  Sriod " 

"  '  Who  have  amassed  an  immense  fortune  in  the  manufacturing 
business  at  their  enormous  establishment  at  Nos.  20,  22,  and  24, 
Street,  London,1 "  concluded  Mr.  Greasebeans,  only  ac 
knowledging  the  interruption  of  Mr.  Snodgrass  with  an  ominous 
frown. 

"  These  notices  are  easily  procured  by  slipping  a  few^crovvns 
into  the  hands  of  reporters,  or  by  making  them  good-natured  with 
soft  chairs  and  good  opportunities  for  reporting.  I  have  obtained 
the  insertion  of  some  capital  advertisements,  which  have  gone  the 
round  of  the  London  press,  without  the  London  press  knowing  they 
were  used,  simply  by  talking  kindly  to  the  reporters,  and  giving 
them  easy  chairs.  Lord,  I  knew  the  value  of  the  position  of  presi 
dent  of  that  society,  when  I  flattered  all  the  pious  old  women,  and 
treated  all  the  religious  old  sots,  who  were  supposed  to  have  any 
influence  in  the  society.  And  I  paid  off  no  small  amount  of  debts, 
too,  for  some  who  were  the  most  clamorous  in  Dexeter  Hall.  But 
I  have  been  doubly,  trebly  paid.  I  could  afford  to  be  liberal.  Why, 
1  would  not  lose  the  position  for  five  thousand  pounds  a  year ;  that 
is  to  say,  not  at  present.  I  don't  know  how  long  it  will  be  consid 
ered  reputable  to  advertise  in  that  way,  for  it  is  becoming  rather  a 
common  business.  All  the  hatters,  tailors,  and  small  fry,  have  re 
sorted  to  it.  It  won't  do  much  longer,  because  they  will  make  it 
decidedly  vulgar,  and  then  it  will  be  beneath  the  notice  of  Grease- 
beans,  Snodgrass  &  Co.,  and " 

"  Successors  to  Brothers  Snodgrass  !"  shouted  Mr.  Snodgrass, 
in  a  voice  which  indicated  a  detarmination  to  be  heard. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Greasebeans,  savagely. 

"  Well,"  said  Dykeman,  "  that  is  one  good  and  sufficient  reason 
for  bleeding  so  freely  ;  what  is  the  other  ?" 

"  The  one  I  have  mentioned  is  of  a  private  nature  and  inures  to 
the  benefit  of  our  house,  the  other  is  of  a  public  character,  mainly, 
though  it  also  will  not  be  without  its  effect  upon  our  pecuniary  af 
fairs.  It  will  not  do  to  have  the  truth  proclaimed  to  the  world,  for 
there  are  thousands  and  millions  in  this  country  who  fancy  that  a 
republican  government  is  preferable  to  our  own,  and  if  they  thought 
we  hopefully  contemplated  the  downfall  of  the  only  republic  on  earth 
worth  the  name,  we  should  have  a  domestic  opposition  to  the  great 
work." 


•    AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  109 

"  Do  you  seriously  intend  to  dissolve  the  American  confede 
racy  ?"  asked  Dykeman. 

Mr.  Greasebeans  winked  expressively.  It  was  a  protracted  wink, 
calculated  to  make  a  profound  impression  upon  Dykeman.  When 
he  had  thus  with  a  single  ray  of  light  opened  a  path  to  the  convic 
tions  of  the  overseer,  he  proceeded  in  his  own  peculiar  way. 

"  We  are  satisfied  with  things  as  they  are  in  England.  We  want 
no  change.  There  is  danger  of  a  change  while  the  government 
of  the  United  States  remains  intact.  Their  example  is  silently, 
but  steadily  undermining  every  representative  monarchy  in  Europe. 
It  cannot  be  otherwise,  for  to  the  masses  there  is  nothing  so  at 
tractive  as  self-government.  The  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  must  be  destroyed.  But  how  1  Not  by  a  forcible  pressure 
from  without ;  the  combined  despotisms  of  the  whole  earth  could 
not  effect  their  purposes  in  that  way.  They  must  be  made  to  de 
stroy  it  themselves." 

"  Surely  they  are  hardly  so  green  as  that  ?" 

"  No  doubt  of  it.  Fanaticism  has  accomplished  far  greater 
triumphs.  Did  it  not  exhibit  the  folly  of  man  in  the  crusades  1  Did 
it  not  proclaim  its  power  in  the  expulsion  of  the  Moors  from  Spain  ? 
Did  it  not  water  the  streets  of  Paris  with  blood  on  the  eve  of  St. 
Bartholomew  ?  Has  it  not  over  and  over  again  deluged  Europe 
with  human  gore  ?  Did  it  not,  too,  exhibit  its  relentless  power  at 
the  time  of  the  Salem  witchcraft  ?  Tush,  man  !  anything  can  be 
accomplished  under  the  leadership  of  fanaticism.  We  intend  to 
destroy  republican  institutions  under  the  specious  banner  of 
liberty." 

"Ha!  ha!" 

"  You  may  laugh,  but  I  tell  you  that  is  the  programme." 
"  "You    intend   to   attack   liberty  under   the  banner  of  liberty. 
Well,  it  is  difficult  to  tell  what  you  may  not  successfully  accom 
plish." 

"  It  required  very  little  sagacity  to  make  out  the  programme. 
We  shall  strengthen  the  abolition  party  through  the  agency  of  lec 
tures,  newspapers,  and  tracts.  Already  they  hold  the  balance  of 
power  in  the  free  States,  and  we  advise  them  to  demoralize  and 
corrupt  the  two  great  parties  by  requiring  them  to  make  conces 
sions,  in  order  to  get  their  votes.  Becoming  familiar  with  a  sale 
of  principles,  by  frequently  setting  them  up  at  auction,  they  will 
at  length  view  anything  like  public  faith  with  supreme  contempt, 
when  it  stands  in  the  path  leading  to  political  promotion.  When 
thus  thoroughly  corrupted,  they  will  yield  an  easy  victory  to  the 
abolitionists.  The  whole  north  will  be  abolitionized,and  then  they 
will  force  the  southern  states  to  emancipate  their  slaves,  or  fight. 
A  fight  is  the  consequence  ;  and  such  a  fight  as  civil  wars  only 
can  exhibit.  A  dissolution  of  the  Union  takes  place  ;  a  dozen  con 
federacies  spring  up,  and  anarchy  and  bloodshed  is  hourly  wit 
nessed,  where  the  beautiful  constellation  of  states  now  revolves  in 
exquisite  harmony.  All  this  will  take  years ;  the  work  may  not 
be  consummated  during  my  life.  It  will  be  resisted  by  patriots, 
north  and  south.  The  Union  will  several  times  be  saved,  but  at 


110  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

last  their  patience  will  be  thoroughly  exhausted,  and  the  crash  will 
come." 

;'  And  you  expect  to  accomplish  all  this,  by  the  aid  of  those  who 
ought  to  defend  the  constitution,  if  necessary,  with  their  lives  7" 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Greasebeans,  serenely. 

"  With  what  arguments  ?  you  would  hardly  inform  them  that 
such  was  your  neighborly  designs." 

"  Of  course  not.  We  shall  constantly  proclaim  our  abhorrence 
of  slavery  ;  we  shall  tell  them  how  disgraceful  it  is  to  uphold  in 
voluntary  bondage  in  a  country  where  they  profess  to  believe  that 
all  men  are  born  free  and  equal.  We  shall  covertly  arouse  their 
jealousy  and  envy  against  their  southern  brethren,  because  they 
live  without  work.  We  shall  say  that  to  live  in  idleness  is  bring 
ing  down  to  too  late  a  period  the  aristocratic  habits  of  the  cavaliers 
who  settled  the  southern  states.  We  shall  contrast  their  own  in 
dustrious  habits  with  those  of  the  gassy,  starchy,  aristocracy  of  the 
south,  and  we  shall  make  them  believe  that  it  will  be  in  strict  ac 
cordance  with  the  genius  of  their  institutions  to  require  southerners 
to  labor,  by  stealing  their  slaves,  or  by  forcing  them  to  choose  be 
tween  the  dread  realities  of  emancipation  or  insurrection.  All  this 
we  shall  accomplish  under  the  banner  of  liberty." 

"  Why,  from  this  candid  statement  it  would  seem  the  American 
abolitionists  are  your  tools,  with  which  you  work  out  their  own  de 
struction." 

"  Yes,  and  the  most  stupid,  ignorant,  demented  tools  that  ever 
man  attempted  to  work  with.  It  does  not  require  an  amazing 
amount  of  cunning  to  lead  them  on  to  their  destruction." 

"  Are  all  of  them  blind  instruments  of  your  will  ?" 

"  No  ;  it  is  shrewdly  suspected  that  some  of  the  ringleaders  in 
the  plot  are  working  understandingly  for  the  destruction  of  their 
government.  These  traitors  hope  to  gain  something  in  the  general 
crash.  But  to  do  the  great  mass  of  the  abolitionists  justice,  they 
are  thought  to  be  honest  in  their  belief." 

"  Are  you  not  fearful  they  may  question  the  purity  of  your  mo 
tives  by  making  an  examination  into  the  horrible  condition  of  the 
poorer  class  in  this  country  ?" 

"  The  southern  press  have  launched  this  argument  against  us, 
but  it  does  not  possess  as  much  weight  as  you  would  suppose. 
The  abolitionists  have  not  witnesssed  the  suffering  among  our  pop 
ulation,  and  to  hear  about  it,  is  one  thing  ;  to  see  it,  another." 

"Well,  how  is  the  house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co. — " 
"  Sue — sue — sue — cess — "  snored  Mr.  Snodgrass,  almost  arousing 
himself  from  a  deep  sleep  at  the  mention  of  the  firm's  name, — "  to 
be  benefited  by  all  this  ?"  persisted  Mr.  Dykeman. 

"  We  want  no  change  ;  we  are  satisfied  with  things  as  they  are. 
If  a  republic  should  be  established,  and  there'should  be  a  more  equal 
division  of  the  real  and  personal  estate  of  the  kingdom,  do  you  sup 
pose  I  could  get  boys  to  work  fourteen  hours  a  day  for  sixpence?" 

Mr.  Greasebeans  closed  his  right  eye  in  a  prolonged  wink,  cal 
culated  to  impress  Mr.  Dykeman,  not  only  with  a  proper  respect 
for  the  world  of  far-reaching  sagacity  that  was  enclosed  within  the 
compressed  lids,  but  also  to  cause  a  reasonable  doubt  in  his  mind  as 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  Ill 

to  whether  the  lids  aforesaid  were  not  under  the  influence  of 
an  obstinate  paralysis,  a  conclusion  that  was  formed  by  the 
ghastly  smile  that  was  drawn  up  into  a  knot  at  the  corner  of  his 
mouth. 

"And  I  am  to  put  the  youngster  through  a  wholesome  disci 
pline  T 

"  Yes,  break  his  obstinacy." 

"  If  it  breaks  his  constitution  1" 

"  It  matters  very  little,  in  this  vast  system  of  ours,  Mr.  Dyke- 
man,  where  a  solitary  individual  is,  no  more  than  a  grain  of  sand 
on  the  sea  shore  ;  whether  he  dies  under  the  operation  of  a  healthy 
discipline,  or  lives  to  exemplify  the  excellence  of  our  regulations. 
It  will  be  all  the  same  one  hundred  years  hence,"  said  Mr.  Grease- 
beans  thoughtfully,  for  he  was  always  sad  when  he  reflected  upon 
that  terrible  leveller — Death. 

"  That's  some  consolation  to  the  poor  folks,  Mr.  Greasebeans  ; 
there  will  be  very  few  of  the  distinctions  of  society  in  the  grave. 
It  is  true  that  the  rich  may  build  tombs  that  will  for  a  greater  or 
less  period  shut  out  the  worms  that  are  not  to  the  body  born,  yet 
the  inherent  corruption  of  the  human  frame  will  ultimately  destroy 
the  limbs  we  are  so  tender  of.  One  by  one  they  will  rot  away  ; 
the  disgusting  gangrene  will  visit  the  loveliest  cheek  ;  festering 
decay  will  prey  upon  the  fairest  bosoms  ;  loathsome  worms  will 
crawl  through  sockets  which  were  radiant  with  beauty,  and  teeth 
that  coral  lips  were  wont  to  reveal  will  grin  a  perpetual  and  ghast 
ly  smile  at  the  triumphant  revelry  of  corruption.  This,  no  tomb 
can  prevent.  I  believe  you  are  now  building  one  with  more  than 
ordinary  care,  Mr.  Greasebeans?" 

That  gentleman's  usually  placid  countenance  had  gradually 
paled.  "  I'll  thank  you  to  indulge  in  such  remarks  as  rarely  as 
possible,  Mr.  Dykeman.  Can't  a  person  put  off  the  hour  of  his 
death  until  it  comes,  without  dying  every  day  in  the  week,"  he 
said  petulantly. 

"  The  preachers  say  that  it  is  not  a  safe  operation  to  do  so.  But 
probably  you  know  best,  whether  they  are  right  or  not ;  only  the 
costliest  tomb  won't  keep  the  worms  from  eating  you  up,  any  more 
than  the  body  of  Jem  Shoelocks.  I  don't  really  know  if  they 
won't  prefer  a  rich  man,  because  his  flesh  must  be  tenderer  than 
one  whose  sinews  have  been  indurated  by  hard  labor." 

*'  That  will  do,"  chimed  in  Mr.  Greasebeans  nervously. 

"  At  all  events,  it  will  be  the  same  in  the  end,  for  I  presume,  un 
less  the  millennium  makes  its  appearance  within  a  century,  very 
nearly  all  that  remains  of  rich  and  poor  will  be — dust." 

"  The  boys  must  require  your  attention,  Mr.  Dykeman."^ 

"  There  is  one  consolation,  however,"  said  Mr.  Dykeman,  rising  ; 
"  that  the  rich  man  possesses.  He  has  the  consciousness  of  know 
ing  that  his  dust  is  kept  safe  from  the  contaminating  touch  of  the 
poor  man's  ashes  ;  and  that,  I  take  it,  will  be  no  small  satisfaction 
during  the  years  upon  years  it  will  remain  imprisoned  in  the  dark, 
silent  receptacle  for  the  dead.  That  is  to  say,  unless  the  necessi 
ties  of  after  ages  may  require  the  use  of  the  soil  for  more  urgent 
purposes  than  to  keep  a  few  handfuls  of  mother  earth.  Even  in 


ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

that  case  you  will  have  one  consolation;  it  is  far  more  cheerful 
without  than  within  a  tomb,  for  your  ashes  may  receive  the  heat  of 
the  sun  and  the  showers  of  heaven,  and  watch  the  ever-changing 
seasons  as  they  record  the  mutations  of  time,  and  the  fiats  of 
destiny." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

i;  Existence  may  be  borne,  and  the  deep  root 
Of  life  and  sufferance  make  its  firm  abode 
In  bare  and  desolate  bosom?." — BYRON. 

LORD  MELVILLE,  in  the  depth  of  his  wrath,  sought  counsel  of 
Ellen  Knowles.  It  was  his  opinion  that  the  female  mind  was  gift 
ed  with  a  subtle  ingenuity  for  the  purposes  of  tormenting,  that  might 
in  vain  be  looked  for  in  the  mental  organization  of  his  own  sex. 
He  was  doubtless  wrong,  though  he  was  wont  to  say  he  had  satis 
factory  proof  that  such  was  the  case.  He  occasionally  remarked, 
also,  that  the  consanguineous  tie  of  cousin  possessed  the  miraculous 
quality  of  exercising  and  bringing  out  the  most  bitter  and  vindic 
tive  hatred  of  which  the  human  mind  is  gifted  ;  and  as  he  thought 
there  must  be  a  great  deal  of  satisfaction  in  hating  scientifically,  it 
"was  a  subject  of  deep  regret  to  his  lordship  that  he  had'not  been 
favored  with  collateral  relations  in  the  fourth  degree.  To  the  in 
terest  which  he  took  in  this  matter  was  Melville  indebted  for  the 
knowledge  that  cousins  were  related  in  the  fourth  degree  ;  and  he 
often  essayed  to  enlighten  the  informed,  uninformed,  and  misinform 
ed — the  relative  proportions  of  which,  in  the  human  family,  he  often 
said,  were  about  equal— by  remarking  that  the  degree  of  relation 
ship  was  computed  by  counting  up  one  degree  to  the  father,  one 
more  to  the  grandfather,  down  one  degree  to  the  cousin's  father, 
and  one  more  to  the  cousin — four  degrees  in  all.  This  was  all  the 
information  to  be  found  in  Blackstone  which  his  lordship  thought 
worth  possessing  in  order  to  qualify  him  for  a  seat  in  the  House 
of  Peers  ;  that  body  of  respectable  gentlemen  whose  most  illustri 
ous  members  are  elevated  from  the  ccmmons  ;  often  creating  there 
by  a  sparseness  of  talent  in  that  branch  of  the  government,  which 
makes  the  appellation  appropriate,  when  applied  to  them,  of  "  Short 
Commons."  Melville  found  Ellen  Knowles  an  eager  assistant. 
The  triumph  of  Christie  Kane  in  the  steeple-chase  added  strength 
to  the  determination  she  had  already  formed  of  compassing  heaven 
and  earth  to  win  his  hand.  She  perceived  that  her  designs  could 
only  be* accomplished  by  humbling  his  native  pride.  The  oppor 
tunity  now  presented  itself,  and  she  entered  into  the  schemes  of 
Lord  Melville  with  an  ingenuity  and  an  ardor  that  he  claimed  to  be 
an  illustration  of  his  opinion  of  the  craft  of  the  sex,  as  well  as  an 
exemplification  of  consanguineous  hatred.  She  welcomed  him  gra 
ciously  as  he  entered  the  parlor  at  the  lodge. 

"  This  cousin  of  yours,  Miss  Knowles  ;  he  is  a  constant  source 
of  annoyance  to  me,"  observed  Melville,  as  he  seated  himself  with 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  US 

that  easy  carelessness  which  the  cockney  aristocracy  know  so  well 
how  to  assume. 

"Get  rid  of  him,  then." 

"How?" 

"  How  ?  He  vour  father's  tenant,  and  in  arrears,  and  yon  ask 
me  how  !  Your  lordship  would  be  an  adept  at  revenge,  and  yet 
you  are  as  ignorant  of  the  means  as  your  great  aunt  was  of  some 
of  the  proprieties  of  life." 

"Another  allusion  to  that  affair,  madam,  and  you  may  work  out 
your  own  revenge  upon  this  boorish  cousin,"  replied  Melville, 
haughtily. 

The  maiden  bit  her  lip.  It  would  not  do  to  quarrel  with  him 
yet ;  and  she  forced  a  laugh. 

"  Come,  my  lord,  we  cannot  get  along  wiMiout  each  other.  Let 
us  be  serious.  You  would  humble  the  arrogant  pretensions  of 
Christie  Kane  ;  so  would  I.  For  the  means,  then.  You  have  them 
in  your  power,  and  I  am  only  astonished  that  you  did  not  avail  your 
self  of  them  before  you  were  beaten  in  the  steeple-chase  in  the 
presence  of  the  assembled  nobility  of  England." 

An  angry  flush  spread  over  his  features. 

"  But  why  did  he  not  avail  himself  of  his  rights,  and  claim  the 
hand  of  Lady  Katharine  at  the  ball  ?" 

"  Because  he  fancied  the  conduct  of  the  lady  was  contemptuous 
when  she  gave  him  the  reward  of  his  triumph.  You  do  not  know 
Christie  Kane." 

"  1  will  though." 

"I  hope  so." 

"  But  how  shall  I  take  the  most  summary  and  terrible  ven 
geance  V 

"  Sell  his  property  ;  eject  him  from  his  farm  ;  throw  him  into 
prison,"  she  coolly  replied. 

"Cousins  can  hate,  can't  they  T' 

"  When  they  have  cause." 

"And  Master  Kane  was  imprudent  enough  not  to  perceive  your 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  Hey  ?" 

The  glance  which  the  maiden  cast  at  him  made  his  lordship  start. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon." 

"  It  is  well  that  you  do.     Ellen  Knowles,  the  grand-daughter  of 
a  Duke,  will  not  ally  herself  to  the  tenant  of  a  nobleman  whose  pa 
tent  is  not  so  old  as  that  of  her  ancestor,"  she  replied,  scornfully. 
I  did  not  mean  to  offend  you,"  he  said,  deprecatingly. 

"  I  hope  not.  The  daughter  of  a  colonel  in  her  majesty's  ser 
vice  need  be  under  no  apprehension  of  insult." 

"  Calm  yourself— calm  yourself;  our  interests  run  too  much  to 
gether  for  us  to  quarrel  about  trifles." 

"  It  is  not  a  trifle  to  insinuate  that  a  lady  has  been  jilted,"  she 
replied,  while  her  eyes  still  flashed. 

"  Have  it  as  you  will.  If  I  pursue  the  plan  you  suggest,  will 
the  spirit  of  the  fellow  be  crushed,  aye,  crushed,"  he  said,  fiercely. 

"  Doubtful ;  but  you  may  tame  him." 

"  I'll  try  ;   won't  I  try  ?" 

"  Hark  you,  my  Lord  Melville  ;  in  all  that  you  do,  have  a  care 


114  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

that  you  mention  not  my  name,  either  to  Christie  Kane  or  to  his 
mother.  D'ye  hear  ?" 

A  gleam  of  triumph  shot  across  the  features  of  Lord  Melville. 
It  as  much  as  said — "  And  so,  Miss,  I  have  you  in  my  power,  as 
well  as  your  cousin." 

'•  Not  a  word,  upon  the  honor  of  a  gentleman,"  was  the  audible 
response. 

"The  programme  is,  to  sell  him  out,  turn  him  out,  and  lock  him 
up«" 

"Precisely  so  ;  you  have  expressed  it  laconically,  and  well." 

"  Immediately  ?" 

"At  once." 

"  Very  well." 

"  That  satisfies  yoir?" 

•'  It  does  ;  so  you  do  not  falter." 

"  Falter  !"  and  he  laughed  sardonically. 

"  He  will  be  locked  up  in  a  week "?" 

"  In  four  days." 

"  You  will  not  relent  ?" 

"Never!  why?" 

"  Because  weakness  is  a  family  failing.  You  know  your  great 
aunt  in  the  matter  of  the  footman — " 

"  Hell  and  damnation  !  am  I  to  be  insulted  thus.  You  shall  pay 
for  the  taunt,"  and  he  dashed  from  the  house. 

Ellen  Knowles  watched  him  from  the  window,  with  something 
like  grim  satisfaction,  as  he  threw  himself  upon  his  horse  and  rode 
furiously  away. 

An  officer,  accompanied  by  the  steward  of  the  Momlow  estate, 
levied  upon  the  property  of  Christie  Kane.  He  regretted  the  loss 
of  all  less  than  the  sale  of  Surrey  ;  though  his  grief  was  not  so 
apparent  as  Phelim  Savor's,  who  felt  a  simple,  but  earnest  attach 
ment  for  the  horse. 

"  Sure  yez  will  not  be  afther  layding  away  bootiful  Surrey,  will 
yez  ?" 

"  Surrey  must  be  sold,  unless  you  have  the  money  to  pay  the 
arrearages  with,"  replied  the  steward. 

Phelim  thrust  his  hands  where  his  pockets  ought  to  be,  but  they 
were  long  since  worn  out  by  similar  attempts,  unavailing  attempts, 
to  find  there  some  of  the  likenesses  of  her  majesty  stamped  upon 
the  coin  of  the  realm. 

"  Divil  a  ha'porth  hiv  I  at  all.  at  all  ;  bad  luck  to  me  extrava 
gant  habits,  that  could  not  save  up  anough  to  kape  this  noble  baste 
n  tho  family." 

The  extravagance  of  Mr.  Savor  consisted  in  spending  the  mat 
ter  of  eleven  pence  half-penny,  for  tobacco  ;  the  total  amount  of 
his  earning  for  the  last  eight  months. 

"  Have  you  the  funds  at  hand  ?"  asked  the  officer  with  a  profes 
sional  leer. 

"  No,  nor  at  mouth,  nayther,  where  yer  honor  kapes  sich  gintle- 
manly  and  witty  remarks." 

"  Better  let  Phelim  alone,"  said  the  steward. 

"  Ugh,"  grunted  the  officer. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  116 

Phelim  seated  himself  upon  a  hen-coop,  and  eyed  the  officer  as 
he  took  a  list  of  the  personal  property  belonging-' to  Christie  Kane. 
"  I  hope  your  honor  won't  forget  anything,"  said  Phelim. 
"  If  there  is  any  probability,  you  will  oblige  us  by  mentioning  it," 
responded  the  steward. 

"  Yez  honor  may  rayly  upon  me  fedelity,"  said  Mr.  Savor,  as, 
filled  with  the  importance  of  the  trust,  he  rose  from  the  hen-coop, 
and  assumed  a  position  more  in  accordance  with  his  new  responsi 
bilities,  upon  the  fence,  where  he  scraped  together  his  sandy  hair 
in  front,  and  set  his  crownless  hat  perpendicularly  thereon.  For 
it  was  the  practice  of  Mr.  Savor  to  place  his  dilapidated  beaver  up- 
his  head  in  a  slanting  direction,  so  as  to  protect  his  cranium  from 
the  sun  or  rain,  only  when  he  felt  like  repining  at  the  ills  of  for 
tune.  But  when,  as  at  the  present  moment,  he  felt  called  upon  to 
exhibit  all  his  importance  as  a  responsible  human  being,  he  bid  de 
fiance  to  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun,  which  found  an  unobstructed 
passage  to  the  red  covering  of  his  skull.  The  hat  to  which  allu 
sion  has  been  made  with  a  respect  commensurate  with  its  venera 
ble  age,  was  the  sole  article  of  the  kind  belonging  to  Phelim  Sa 
vor.  In  justice,  however,  to  that  gentleman,  it  is  proper  to  add, 
that  this  fact  was  owing  to  the  sparseness  of  her  majesty's  handsome 
likeness  in  the  custody  of  Mr.  Savor.  Though,  had  he  been 
more  favored  by  fortune  in  that  regard,  it  is  doubtful  whether  he 
would  have  deemed  it  consistent  with  his  principles  to  become  the 
owner  of  two  hats ;  for,  in  his  estimation,  nothing  could  be  more 
dishonorable  than  to  carry  two  faces  under  one  hat,  a  condition  of 
things  that  he  found  it  difficult  to  distinguish  from  one  face  under 
t\\  o  hats. 

Yer  honor  wont  forget  the  speckled  piff  ?" 
No." 

And  the  big  rooster  1" 

No."     The  officer  continued  with  his  memorandum. 
Perhaps  yer  honor  can  make  something  out  of  yon  oold  hen, 
for  nayther  I  nor  the  rooster — " 

"  You  are  becoming  trouble — "  interrupted  the  steward. 
"  Not  in  the  laist,"  interrupted  Phelim.  "  I'm  a  gintleman  now, 
and  am  intirely  at  yer  disposal,  fur  yez  hiv  livied  on  ivery  tool  up 
on  the  farm.  Divil  a  thing  hiv  yez  left,  excipt  mesel,  and  yez  had 
better  take  me,  for  the  holy  St.  Pathrick  only  knows  how  I  am  to 
live  now." 

"  Why,  if  you  are  a  gentleman,  as  you  say,  you  can  live  without 
work." 

"  Without  money  ?" 
"  Yes  ;  by  your  wits,"  said  the  officer. 

"  Its  meself  is  afeared  the  capital  would  not  ba  profitable,  as  yez 
have  found  the  invistment  yaldes  small  profits." 
;  Ugh  !"  grunted  her  majesty's  representative. 
"  Yon  is  the  billy-goat ;  his  riverence,  maister  Scrimpton,  the 
Apiscopalian  minister,  would  giv  yez  the  matter  of  one  pound  ten 
for  that  billy-goat." 
,    u  What  for?" 

"  Tul  make  his  riverence  a  wig,  or  a  goaty  one,  for  he  niver 


116  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

passes  this  way  that  he  don't  slop  and  cast  invious  eyes  at  that 
same  billy-goat." 

'k  What  would  you  sell  your  wit  for?''  asked  the  constable. 

"  Tf  it  was  markitable  yer  honor  ought  to  buy  it," 

"  Why  ?" 

"  Bekase  blissid  Ireland  is  not  frayer  of  snakes  thin  yer  honoris 
of  that  same." 

"Ugbl" 

"  There's  the  skeleton  of  the  old  cow,  as  died  last  summer,  in  the 
lot  beyant.  It's  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  ;  prehaps  yer  ho 
nor  can  make  something  out  of  that;  though  she  niver  was  much 
of  a  milker  in  her  life-time.  Some  people  can  raise  the  dead,  they 
say.  Perhaps  yer  honor  is  one  of  thim," 

>k  No  ;  but  I'll  tell  yez  (irreverently  imitating  Phelim's  '  rich 
Irish  brogue')  what  I  can  do.  It's  mesell  that  can  take  every  bit 
of  skin  from  the  back  of  yez,"  said  the  enraged  officer. 

Mr.  Savor  placed  the  fence  between  the  constable  and  himself. 

"  Be  vartue  of  yez  office,  money  is  raised,  and  I  hope  yez  will 
not  consider  it  offensive  whin  I  supposed  the  skeleton  of  the  old 
cow  beyant  might  be  raised  likewise.  As  nothing  is  too  low  for 
yer  honor  to  do,  yez  might  try  an  expiriment  on  the  skeleton  of  the 
old  cow  ;  it  might  help  you  to  make  up  arrareages,  ba  rayson  of 
which  the  Duke  of  Sunderland  might  not  lose  a  hayperth  -of "his 
rent.  Shall  I  show  yer  honor  where  the  skeleton ' 

Phelim  was  not  permitted  to  conclude  the  sentence,  for  the  offi 
cer,  dropping  his  memorandum,  sprang  over  the  fence.  Mr.  Savor, 
conscious  that  his  body  would  suffer  in  the  hands  of  the  officer  in 
his  present  mood,  departed  with  great  vivacity.  They  were  both 
fleet  of  foot,  and,  consequently,  made  foot-prints  rapidly  across  the 
potato  patch,  in  the  direction  of  the  wheat  field.  Phelim's  hat- 
crown  gathered  so  much  wind  in  his  flight  that  it  blew  off.  He 
had  a  partiality  for  that  hat,  imperfect  as  it  was,  and  he  turned  to 
pick  it  up ;  but  the  constable  applied  his  foot  to  it  with  so  much 
vigor  that  it  sailed  through  the  air  with  the  addition  of  another  hole 
in  its  already  imperfect  proportions. 

t.    "  Hiv  yez  no  riverence  for  a  man's  bayver  V  he  cried,  indignant 
ly,  as  he  confronted  the  officer. 

"  Take  that,  and  see,"  replied  the  constable,  as  he  disrespect 
fully  punched  Mr.  Savor's  ribs  with  his  fist. 

Phelim  acknowledged  the  blow  with  a  grunt.  Offended  by  such 
unwarrantable  familiarities,  and  having  an  indistinct  idea  that  the 
present  proceeding  of  the  constable  was  not  fully  authorized  under  the 
power  to  make  a  levy,  and  conscious  of  having  aided  justice  instead 
of  obstructing-  her  mission,  in  so  far  as  making  suggestions  as  to  ad 
ditional  articles  to  be  levied  upon,  including  the  skeleton,  the  pig, 
and  the  billy-goat  were  concerned,  he  assumed  the  reserved  right 
of  an  English  subject  to  defend  himself. 

"  It's  a  bootiful  officer  yez  are  not  to  know  that  a  man  is  protict- 
ed  in  his  castle.  And,  bad  luck  tull  yez,  don't  yer  say  me  hat  is 
all  the  castle  I  hiv  ?  Begorro,  I'll  tache  yez  yer  duty  ony  how." 

Saying  which,  Phelim  seized  the  hat  of  the  constable,  and,  mut 
tering  that  "  thim  haythinish  officers  always  have  other  castles  ex- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  117 

cept  their  bayvers,"  proceeded  to  jam  the  hat  down  over  the  eyes 
and  ears  of  the  constable,  where  he  held  it  with  determined  vigor. 

"  Yez  may  tramp  about  as  much  as  yer  plaze,  fur  it's  yer  own 
prates  yer  spileing." 

"  Let  go — let  go  !"  gasped  the  constable,  from  within  the  hat. 

"Acting  in  silf-defmce." 

"  Let  go,  or  I'll  have  you  transported.'1 

"  It's  transported  I  am  already  wid  amusement  at  the  capers  yer 
honor  is  cutting." 

The  steward  now  advanced  to  the  assistance  of  the  officer.  Phe- 
lim  waited  until  he  was  within  a  few  yards,  and  then  giving  the 
hat  one  more  vigorous  thrust  downwards,  made  with  renewed  vi 
vacity  for  the  wheat  field,  much  strengthened  and  gratified  in  the 
inner  man  by  the  infliction  of  justice,  after  his  own  peculiar  fashion, 
upon  the  executor  of  the  law. 

Every  thing  belonging  to  Christie  Kane  was  sold,  and  lie  ex 
pected  every  moment  would  witness  his  own  arrest  and  the  ejec 
tion  of  his  mother  into  the  highway.  Overwhelmed  with  anxiety, 
less  on  his  own  than  her  account,  he  welcomed  the  gentle  and  con 
fiding  Ellen  Knowles  as  she  entered  the  little  parlor,  where  he  was 
reclining  upon  the  sofa. 

She  looked  at  him  with  tearful  eyes. 

"  You  see,  Ellen,  fate  is  busy." 

"  I  do,  I  do.     But  cannot  its  more  fatal  decrees  be  revoked  V' 
•     "  How  1"  inquired  Christie. 

uBy  soliciting  the  Duke  of  Sumierland  to  arrest  these  proceed 
ings.  I  do  not  believe  he  is  aware  of  what  his  son  is  doing." 

*'  I  would  not  follow  your  advice  if  by  doing  so  I  could  save  my 
life,"  said  Christie,  sternly. 

"  I  hope  I  have  not  offended  you,  Christie,"  she  replied,  sadly. 
44 1  wras  only  prompted  to  make  the  suggestion  by  the  interest  I  feel 
in  your  welfare." 

44 1  am  sure  you  were  not,  dear  Ellen.  Do  not  remember  my 
rudeness  ;  I  am  not  conscious  of  what  I  say." 

He  took  her  hand  and  pressed  it  in  his  own. 

A  triumphant  expression  flashed  across  her  features;  but  in  a 
moment  they  resumed  a  pensive  cast. 

"  What  will  you  do,  cousin  Christie,"  she  asked,  imploringly. 

44  Meet  the  reverses  of  fortune  with  a  manly  bearing." 

4'  But  how  far  can  you  be  affected  by  the  malevolence  of  Lord 
Melville  ?" 

"To  the  extent  of  being  thrown  into  prison." 

He  thought  the  beautiful  girl  shuddered  as  she  turned  away  her 
head. 

*4  What!  in  free,  enlightened  England,  a  man,  actuated  by  the 
vilest  motives,  to  control  the  liberty  of  a  freeman  ;  to  make  him 
tremble  at  his  approach  ;  to  thrust  him  into  prison  ;  to  keep  him 
there  so  long  as  his  vindictive  passions  remain  unappeased  ;  and 
all  because  a  small  matter  of  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence — the 
dross  of  earth,  the  root  of  all  evil — remains  unadjusted  between 
them?" 


118  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  Even  so,  dear  Ellen,"  replied  Christie,  grateful  for  the  words, 
and  the  warm  blood  that  mantled  her  cheek  as  she  spoke. 

"  And  you  think  he  will  thrust  you,  you,  my  dear  cousin,  into 

jwl." 

"  There  is  not  a  doubt  of  it." 

".Why  do  you'not  foil  his  malice  by  fleeing  ?"  she  inquired,  while 
a  peculiar  expression  crossed  her  features. 

"  Because  I  am  an  Englishman,  and  scorn  flight." 

The  maiden  seemed  to  breathe  more  easily. 

"  Can  I  do  nothing  for  you,  Christie  ?" 

He  thought  for  a  moment  it  was  strange  she  did  not  ask  if  her 
father  could  do  nothing,  but  he  dismissed  the  thought  as  unworthy, 
of  himself  and  his  gentle  sympathizing  cousin.  She  rose  to  take 
her  leave. 

"  I  fear  we  may  not  meet  again,  soon,"  she  said,  while  tears  filled 
her  eyes.  His  heart  was  touched  by  her  solicitude  for  his  welfare, 
and  he  walked  by  her  side,  with  her  soft  hand  resting  upon  his  arm, 
as  she  proceeded  homewand. 

The  hour  was  propitious  for  love.  The  light  of  day  was  grace 
fully  yielding  its  scepter  to  the  sway  of  night,  through  the  melting 
agency  of  twilight.  Upon  the  mellow  air  floated  the  song  of  the 
nightingale,  that  companion  of  lovers,  and  upon  the  scene  stole  the 
soothing  influence  of  melody  and  affection. 

The  following  night  Christie  Kane  slept  within  the  damp  walls 
of  a  prison. 

The  sceptre  of  England  was  still  swayed  by  a  firm,  though  a  fe 
male  hand  ;  the  world  continued  to  roll  through  space  under  the 
guidance  of  omnipotent  power,  and  these  two  facts,  the  most  impor 
tant  in  the  estimation  of  the  English  aristocracy,  that  divine  good 
ness  could  bestow,  still  rendered  them  deaf  alike  to  social  wrongs  and 
political  rights  ;  so  far,  at  least,  as  the  humbler  portion  of  the  pop 
ulation  of  the  British  empire  was  concerned.  The  earth  will  still 
roll  on,  and  England  will  still  be  governed  by  the  strong  arms  and 
feeble  minds  of  hereditary  sovereigns,  until  the  people,  roused  to  a 
sense  of  their  inherent  rights,  assume  the  prerogatives  which"  the 
God  of  nature  placed  under  their  control.  Till  then  labor  in  the 
cause  of  foreign  philanthropy,  ye  benevolent  aristocracy  of  the 
British  Empire ;  until  then,  ye  stolid,  slumbering  subjects  of  des 
potism,  present  your  willing  limbs  to  the  lash  of  your  task-masters, 
until  the  scourge  awakens  you  to  a  sense  of  your  wrongs,  for  nothing 
else  will ! 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  119 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"  O,  gentle  sound, — how  sweetly  did  they  fall 
In  broken  murmurs,  like  a  melody 
From  lips,  that  waiting  long  on  loving  hearts, 
Had  learned  to  murmur  like  them." — SIMMS. 

KATHARINE  MONTAGUE  proceeded  at  an  early  hour  upon  her  ac 
customed  visit  to  her  father's  tenantry.  The  sky  was  cloudless, 
the  air  was  balmy  and  fragrant,  the  sun  was  only  brightening  the 
tree-tops  with  his  golden  rays,  for  he  had  not  yet  kissed  away  the 
dew,  those  tear-drops  shed  by  night  for  the  loss  of  day. 

Her  spirits  were  light,  for  she  felt  a  consciousness  of  doing  good. 
It  was  one  of  the  chief  attractions  of  this  beautiful  girl  that  her 
heart  thrilled  with  tenderness  in  the  presence  of  suffering.  She 
daily  visited  the  old,  infirm,  and  unfortunate,  and  her  presence  was 
always  greeted  with  exclamations  of  gratitude. 

She  observed  a  person  approaching,  whom  she  recognized  as  the 
serving-man  of  Christie  Kane.  Phelim  removed  his  crownless 
hat  and  observed  with  mechanical  and  characteristic  fluency, 

"  Long  life  tul  yer  ladyship,  and  may  yez  bless  us  for  many  a 
day  wid  yez  booty  and  charities." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr. Mr. " 

"  Phelim  Savor,  if  yez  plaze,"  he  replied,  pulling  his  red  top 
knot,  and  favoring  the  gravelled  road  with  a  semicircular  scrape 
with  his  right  foot. 

"  Phelim  Savor  ;  a  pleasant  name.  And  where  are  you  going, 
Mr.  Savor  ?" 

"  Its  mesel'  don't  know  that  same." 

"  Dojiot  know  where  you  are  going  ?" 

"  Indade  it's  the  truth.  I'm  like  a  dismantled  ship  on  her  beam 
eends,  widout  compass,  rudder,  or  pilot,  as  boatswain  McScudder 
used  to  say." 

"  Have  you  left  the  service  of  Christie  Kane,  for  methinks  you 
were  his  retainer  ?" 

"  Maister  Christie,  God  bliss  him,  has  no  sarvice  now,  and  he 
is  under  a  retainer  himsilf." 

"  What  do  you  mean "?" 

"  He's  in  jail." 

•'  In  jail "?     What  crime  has  he  committed  ?" 

"  He  has  been  tried  and  found  guilty  of  the  hainus  offince  of  ba- 
ing  poor." 

"  You  are  merry,  Mr.  Savor." 

"  Troth  I  fear  I  shall  niver  be  that  again,"  he  replied  sadly. 

"  Who  caused  him  to  be  imprisoned "?" 

*'  Lord  Melville,  of  koorse." 

"  Why  of  course  ?" 

"  Bekase  it  was  wid  his  horse,  yer  ladyship  bate  his  lordship  in 


120  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

the  race,  at  the  time  he  made  a  small  expiriment  in  the  lake  fer- 
nenst  the  castle." 

'  Did  Christie  Kane  boast  of  that?"  she  asked  quickly. 

'  Divil  a  word,  begging  yer  ladyship's  pardon  for  mentioning  the 
name  of  that  unpopular  gintleman.  I  was  tould  it  by  the  people  at 
the  castle." 

"  Was  that  the  only  cause  for  ill  will  that  Christie  Kane  has  giv 
en  his  lordship  ?" 

"  Sure  yez  hiv'ent  forgot  the  steeple  chase.  Didn't  me  masther 
win  the  prize  from  yiz  bootiful  hand,  whin  Lord  Melville  would  hiv 
died  fur  it,  as,  indade,  would  onybodv  else,"  said  Phelim  enthusias 
tically. 

A  blush  mantled  Katharine  Montague's  cheek  at  the  warm  lan 
guage  of  her  humble  admirer. 

"  And  his  mother  ;  I  believe  his  mother  is  living  ?" 
_'  "  Since  her  son's  arrest,  she's  gone  to  her  sister's,°Mrs.  Knowles." 

"And  is  Ellen  Knowles  a  cousin  of  Christie  Kane's?" 

"  She  bes  that  same." 

'k'And  I  suppose  they  are  friends  of  each  other  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  should  think  they  would  be,  for  she  is  very 
bootiful  as  well  as  yersel." 

"  Yes,  she  is  very  handsome,"  replied  Katharine,  thoughtfully. 

"  Yez  say  she  is  constantly  at  my  master's  house ;  at  laist  was 
a  condolin  wid  him  upon  his  thrials  and  misfortins." 

"  Undoubtedly,"  she  replied  tapping  the  mane  of  her  horse  with 
her  riding  whip.  "  And  the  dapple  gray  is  to  be  sold  ?" 

"  To-morrow." 

"  What  is  to  become  of  you,  now?" 

"  I  don't  know.  I've  niver  thought  much  how  to  get  along  in 
the  world,  for  yez  say  Master  Christie  has  always  done  me 
thinking." 

"  You  have  no  home  ?" 

"  Niver  a  bit.  But  I  spose  the  world  owes  me  a  living  onyhow  ; 
or  at  least  it  ought  to  ;  fur  I  had  no  choice  whether  I  would  come 
into  it  or  no  ;  and  the  blessed  praists  say  I  have  no  choice  whether 
J  will  go  out  of  it  or  no." 

Katherine  Montague  took  some  gold  pieces  from  her  purse. 

"  Take  this  money  ;  purchase  a  suit  of  the  Montague  livery,  and 
inquire  for  me,  at  the  castle." 

"  May  the  Almighty  Powers  forever  bless  your  ladyship,"  said 
Phelim  Savor,  fervently,  as  he  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  pressed  the 
border  of  her  riding-dress  to  his  lips.  "  Och  !  that  iver  I  should 
be  so  blissid  !  Sure,  yer  ladyship  will  injure  the  Bank  of  England, 
by  giving  me  sich  enormous  sums!"  And  Phelim  gazed  upon  his 
wealth  as  if  its  possession  materially  interfered  with  the  financial 
arrangements  of  the  government. 

"  If  it  plaze  yer  ladyship,  may  I  davote  the  rist  of  this,  afther 
purchasing  the  suit,  to  the  payment  of  Master  Christie's  debts,  and 
to  buying  him  something  to  ate?  for  it's  nothing  but  very  poor 
bread  and  water  he'll  be  afther  getting,  in  that  same  prison,  where 
he  is  confined.  If  you  knew  what  a  kind,  good,  gentlemanly  mas 
ter  he  always  wer  tul  me,  I'm  sure  yez  would  not  refuse." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  121 

"Do  with  it  as  you  please,"  she  replied,  as  she  gave  her  horse 
the  rein. 

Phelim  watched  her  receding-  form  with  emotions  of  gratitude. 
"  It's  the  hlissed  praistes  would  think  me  devotion  for  that  booti- 
ful  creature  belonged  to  thim,  but  may  the  holy  8  .  Pathrick  help 
me,  for  I  niver  expect  to  fale  sich  gratitude  for  mortal  man,  be  he 
ten  times  a  praiste,  as  I  feel  for  that  young  lady.  But  the  divil  a 
word  will  I  mention  about  it,  the  next  time  I  confess,  to  Father 
McQuodling.  All  this  gookl,  too,  besides  taking  me  into  her  ser 
vice.  I'll  be  damned  if  Father  McQuodling  mai'nt  expict  a  long 
time  afore  he'll  make  me  riverence  him  tul  the  same  extent  as  I  do 
yon  lady.  Divil  a  bet  the  wiser  will  his  riverence  ba,  though  I 
dare  say  his  riverence — heaven  pardon  me — do'nt  ravale  all  his 
villanous  thoughts  to  the  Almighty  ;  and  why  should  he  expect 
poor  divils  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  it  if  the  clergy  do  not.  It's 
mesel  wouldent  carry  two  faces  under  one  hat,  if  I  had  the  right, 
tnl  the  same  extint,  as  the  praistes,  to  confess  directly  to  the 
Suprame  Being,  and  ask  blessings  amadently  from  him,  widdout 
the  intervention  of  Father  McQuodling." 

Reflecting  upon  the  superior  advantages  of  Father  McQuodling, 
in  the  matter  of  a  direct  spiritual  intercourse  with  Omnipotence, 
which,  in  his  opinion,  was  denied  to  laymen,  counting  over  and 
over^  again  the  gold  pieces,  and  regretting  the  dilapidated  condition 
of  his  pockets,  now  that,  for  the  first  time,  during  their  existence, 
he  was  possessed  of  something  to  make  them  "  fale  comfortable  ;" 
and  expressing  the  liveliest  satisfaction,  in  broken  soliloquies,  at 
the  generosity  of  Lady  Katharine  Montague,  Phelim  Savor  sought 
for  one  of  those  useful  and  highly  respectable  individuals,  known 
as  drapers  and  tailors. 

Christie  Kane  occupied  a  narrow  cell  in  the  county  jail.  It  was 
scarcely  three  steps  in  length,  and  only  wide  enough  for  a  foul 
berth,  and  room  to  stand.  It  was  one  of  the  tier  of  cells  under 
ground— far  under  ground— being  the  third  tier  from  the  surface  of 
the  earth.  The  merciful  law-makers  thinking  all  persons  who 
cannot  pay  their  debts,  no  better  than  fossil  remains,  whom  to  put 
out  of  sight  were  as  much  a  duty  as  to  bury  the  dead. 

It  was  not  enough,  in  this  charitable  and  wise  estimation,  to  re 
strain  the  debtor  of  his  liberty  ;  to  withdraw  him,  as  something 
that  might  contaminate  society,  from  its  presence  ;  to  put  him 
aside  as  a  man  would  old  furniture  ;  to  conceal  him  from  public  ob 
servation,  as  the  hypocritical  do  their  vices.  All  this  would  not 
suffice.  He  must  be  punished  for  his  misfortunes  ;  for,  what  right 
had  he  to  be  poor  ?  If  tightness  in  the  money  market  resulted  in 
failure,  the  victim  should  have  known  what  was  to  happen.  If  the 
wheat  crop  failed,  he  should  have  sown  rye  ;  if  oats  were  blighted, 
he  ought  to  have  planted  more  potatoes.  Not  being  as  wise  as 
omnipotence,  he  must  be  well  punished.  As  thoroughly,  at  least, 
as  the  most  depraved  villain  in  the  land,  because  thieves  and  black 
legs  occupied  adjoining  cells.  But  there  is  one  excuse  for  the  cred 
itor  ;  he  will  obtain  his  money  so  much  sooner  by  keeping  the  debt 
or  in  prison  !  He  can  raise  such  quantities  of  grain  from  the  pro 
ductive  soil  of  the  stone  floor  ;  his  commercial  pursuits  will  prove 


23  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

so  profitable,  beneath  the  earth,  because  his  ships  can  tack  or  run 
before  the  wind  upon  the  moisture  of  the  walls  ;  and,  laden  with 
the  wealth  of  the  Indies,  can  sail  through  the  channel  of  darkness 
which  fills  the  aperture  of  the  door.  If  the  prisoner  is  a  poet,  the 
vanities  of  the  world  will  not  become  a  rival  to  the  spirit  of  song 
with  which  his  soul  must  be  inspired.  He  will  unravel  whole  acres 
of  harrowing  poetry  of  the  Byronic  description,  (or  what  is  the 
same,  in  its  effect,  whole  acres  of  poetry,  the  language  of  which 
has  been  harrowed  with  a  painful  disregard  for  the  rules  of  Lindlay 
Murray  and  Noah  Webster)  which  those  persons  who  love  to  have 
their  feelings  wrought  up  to  the  most  intense  pitch  of  agony  and  de 
spair,  may  sigh  and  weep  over  to  their  heart's  content. 

The  jailoAurned  the  key  and  the  ponderous  door  swung  upon 
its  hinges — not  rusty  hing'es,  as  the  architect  of  that  renowned 
"  solitary  horseman"  delights  in  having  it,  but  plain,  unpretending, 
unromantic  hinges,  that  frequent  use  had  kept  free  from  rust,  and 
a  piece  of  mouldy  bread  and  a  mug  of  unsavory  water,  which  the 
owner  of  one  of  Ham's  descendants  would  think  food  too  mean  for 
a  slave,  were  placed  upon  the  floor. 

The  jailor  scowled  at  his  prisoner  as  if  he  thought  it  a  special 
exhibition  of  divine  mercy  that  he  was  allowed  to  live. 

"  Can't  pay  your  debts,  hey  ?"  he  said,  in  accents  strongly  em 
phasized  by  disgust. 

Christie  Kane  made  no  reply. 

"  Proud,  too.  I  should  jist  like  to  know  what  a  poor  man  has  to 
do  with  pride  ?" 

"  You  estimate  the  worth  of  a  human  being  by  the  amount  of 
money  he  possesses?" 

"  Certainly  ;  by  what  other  rule  can  he  be  weighed  1  '  said  the 
jailor,  with  a  look  of  surprise. 

"  I  am  ignorant  enough  to  suppose  that  moral  and  intellectual 
qualities  may  be  entitled  to  Ibme  consideration." 

"  You  are  ignorant  if  you  can  believe  such  folly.  Why,  sir, 
mind  will  soon  kick  the  beam  in  the  scale  with  money,"  replied  the 
man  of  keys,  looking  complacently  at  those  instruments  of  power. 

Christie  Kane  felt  the  force  of  his  remark,  and  it  lessened  the 
value  of  human  nature  several  degrees  in  his  estimation. 

"  Do  you  hear  me  ?"  demanded  the  keeper  savagely. 

"I  do." 

"  Well,  you  will  see  the  truth  on't,  afore  you  leave  these  walls. 
For  the  mind  you  boast  of  will  rust,  and  your  limbs  will  rot,  here, 
here,  unless  you  are  liberated  by  money." 

"  At  all  events,  as  a  slight  compensation  for  the  loss  of  liberty, 
you  ought  to  bring  me  food  more  inviting  than  these  crusts,"  said 
Christie,  good  humoredly. 

"  The  crusts  to-morrow  shall  be  like  rocks,  and  the  water  green, 
dark  green,  if  I  can  find  it,"  replied  the  earthly  St.  Peter,  shaking 
his  keys. 

"  You  do  not  approve  a  free  expression  of  opinion,  my  worthy 

friend  ?" 

"Look  ye,  my  precious  cove,  Herrick  Hellkirk  calls  no  man 
friend  who  can't  pay  his  debts,  and  for  your  impertinence  in  calling 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  123 

me  such,  I  shall  shorten  your  allowance  of  food,  and  I'll  begin  by 
taking  this  away." 

"•  You  will  only  incur  the  risk  of  removal,  Mr.  Hellkirk,  for  I 
shall  proclaim  your  villainy." 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  Ho  !  ho  !  ho  !  That's  too  good,  by  God  !  it  is. 
Who  will  believe  you  when  I  pronounce  it  a  lie,  a  damned  wilful 
and  malicious  lie  !  Look-a-heah  !"  he  added  fiercely  ;  "  Who  will 
be  the  wiser  if  I  do  not  visit  the  cell  for  a  week,  after  I  have 
knocked  you  down  with  this  bunch  of  keys  and  gagged  you  V 

"Monster!" 

"  It  would  not  be  the  first  time  I've  done  it,  and  if  you  dare  to 
look  at  me  thus,  may  I  be  eternally  damned  if  it  shall  be  the  last," 
he  said,  in  a  low  savage  tone. 

Christie  Kane  folded  his  arms  and  gazed  at  the  other  with  an 
overwhelming  expression  of  contempt  upon  his  features.  The 
jailor  sprang  upon  him  with  the  fury  of  a  demon.  The  attack  was 
unexpected,  and  Kane  was  hurled  to  the  ground  by  the  herculean 
strength  of  the  jailor.  His  head  came  violently  in  contact  with  the 
stone  floor,  and  he  lay  there  motionless.  The  faint  moans  that  es 
caped  him  did  not  penetrate  to  the  outer  air,  and  he  was  gagged 
and  bound.  The  face  of  the  jailor  gleamed  with  the  fierceness  of 
a  tiger  as  he  twisted  the  rope  which  he  had  brought  with  him  be 
tween  the  teeth  of  his  victim. 

"  Now,  vagabond,  let  us  see  how  long  you  will  preserve  your 
haughty  bearing.  The  poor  to  threaten !  Bah  !  Lord  Mellville 
will  pay  well  for  this."  And  kicking  the  unconscious  body  with 
his  heavy  boot,  he  withdrew  from  the  cell  and  locked  the  door. 

Christie  Kane  remained  a  long  time  upon  the  damp  floor,  and 
when  at  last  awakened  to  a  consciousness  of  his  situation,  the  cold 
sweat  stood  upon  his  forehead,  for  the  terrible  conviction  flashed 
upon  his  mind  that  he  was  buried  alive. 

With  great  difficulty  he  rose  from  the  floor.  His  head  swam 
round,  and  he  staggered  against  the  wall.  At  last  he  managed  to 
roll  into  his  berth,  where  he  lay  overcome  by  the  most  painful  re 
flections.  The  rope  was  drawn  so  tightly  across  his  mouth  that  it 
gave  him  excessive  pain,  and  the  cord  which  confined  his  arms  be 
hind  him  cut  into  the  flesh  and  stopped  the  circulation  of  his  blood. 
The  designs  of  the  jailor  were  apparent.  He  was  to  be  thus 
confined  until  so  exhausted,  by  hunger  and  suffering,  that  his  cries 
could  not  be  heard,  when  the  cords  would  be  removed,  and  his 
death  attributed  to  general  debility,  brought  on  by  unwholesome 
air,  want  of  exercise,  and  the  fretting  of  a  proud  spirit  at  confine 
ment.  There  would,  in  the  careless  inquisition  held  upon  his 
body,  be  no  clue  to  murder  most  foul. 

He  looked  upon  the  four  walls  as  a  living  tomb — the  portals  of 
that  unheralded  burial,  which  would  soon  follow.  It  is  terrible  for 
the  young  to  die  ;  to  yield  the  realities  of  earth  for  the  untraveled 
future.  But  to  die  the  most  lingering  and  painful  death  that  human 
ingenuity  could  invent ;  to  linger  in  the  grasp  of  the  fell  destroyer 
as  he  gradually  tightened  his  grasp  upon  the  suffering  flesh,  with 
out  the  cheering  presence  of  affection,  was  too  horrible  !  He  was 


124  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

unsustained  by  hope,  and   he  prepared  to  meet  death  with  what 
resignation  a  manly  spirit  could  summon  to  his  aid 

His  mother  had,  for  the  last  few  weeks,  assumed  a  stern  and 
inforgmng  manner  towards  him,  which  he  attributed  to  a  failure 
upon  his  part  to  comply  with  the  request,  which  she  had  often 
made,  to  solicit  the  hand  of  Ellen  Knowles  in  marriage.  When 
offered  his  hand  at  parting,  Mrs.  Kane  obstinately  declined  to 
take  it,  scornfully  asserting  that  he  deserved  his  fate"  for  refusing 
3  return  the  love  of  one  who  adored  him,  and  by  whose  assistance 
alone  he  could  effect  his  release  from  prison.  He  had  no  expecta 
tion  that  his  mother  would  interest  herself  so  far  in  his  fate  as 
even  to  desire  an  interview,  until  he  was  sufficiently  humbled  in 
her  estimation.  Of  Col.  Knowles  he  could  expect  nothing,  for  he 
had  always  disliked  him.  And  Ellen,  gentle,  lovinrr  Ellen,  what 
could  she  accomplish?  He  had,  with  the  exception  of  Phelim 
and  his  brother  Robert,  (neither  of  whom  could  assist  him,)  no 
other  friend  among  all  the  members  of  the  human  family,  who 
would  turn  upon  his  heel  to  do  him  a  favor.  From  the  philanthro 
pists,  who  direct  their  exertions  exclusively  to  foreign  sufferings, 
he  had  no  hope.  As  an  Englishman,  he  had  claims  upon  them 
He  was  a  neighbor,  and  charity  ought  to  begin  at  home.  But  they 
could  not  withdraw  their  gaze  from  the  United  States. 

It  was  strange,  too,  for  their  conduct  strikingly  contrasted  with 
that  of  many  distinguished  individuals,  whose  pretensions  are  pro- 
?rly  very  high,  and  especially  that  of  the  senior  partner  of  the 
greatest  American  publishing  house,  whose  native  Americanism  is 
so  intensely  patriotic,  that  it  can  tolerate  nothing  foreign,  except 
the  unpurchased  works  of  English  authors,  for  which  he  is  sup 
posed  to  have  a  partiality  so  strong  that  his  honesty  has  found  it 
too  powerful  for  successful  resistance ;  a  slight,  yet  profitable,  de 
viation  from  the  path  of  rectitude,  which  it  is  presumed  he  palliates 
upon  the  ground  that  a  moderate  amount  of  thieving,  in  that  regard, 
is  allowable,  in  consideration  of  the  fidelity  with  which .  he  main 
tains  the  balance  of  his  native  American  principles  (?)  the  sale  of 
which  don't  pay. 

The  weary  hours  rolled  on,  uncounted  by  Christie  Kane,  for  no 
ray  of  the  sun  ever  penetrated  his  dark  and  silent  abode.  And 
there  he  lay,  without  the  power  of  motion  ;  the  image  of  the  Al 
mighty,  suffering  the  penalty  of  the  law  authorizing  imprisonment 
for  debt— a  law  that  would  have  disgraced  the  statute-book  of 
Draco,  and  which  should  be  consigned  to  irretrievable  oblivion  by 
every  legislative  body  on  earth,  whose  members  aspire  to  a  greater 
elevation  in  the  scale  of  civilization  than  the  Hottentots  can  boast. 
His  sufferings  became  intolerable.  The  blood  could  not  be 
thrown  from  his  heart  to  the  extremities  of  his  arms,  and  his  hands 
became  cold  as  ice. 

He  fancied  so  much  of  his  body  was  dead,  and  he  tried  to  esti 
mate  the  time  which  must  elapse*  before  the  grim  monster  would 
move  his  freezing  hand  along  his  limbs,  until  his  grasp  was  fast 
ened  upon  his  vitals. 

Misery  proceeds  at  a  slow  pace,  and  days  might  have  elapsed 
since  he  was  aroused  from  insensibility,  and  he  was  fast  sinking 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  12* 

into  a  state  of  unconsciousness,  when  he  thought  a  ray  of  light 
flashed  upon  the  wall.  He  rallied  his  drooping  spirits.  Was  theu^ 
still  hope  1  With  eager  gaze  he  watched  the  door. 

The  key  turned  in  the  lock,  the  door  rolled  back,  and  the  trem 
bling  form  of  the  jailor  entered  the  cell,  followed  by  the  stately 
figure  of  the  Earl  of  Rossmore. 

The  nobleman  folded  his  arms,  and  looked  first  at  Christie  Kane 
and  then  at  the  jailor  ;  the  one  met  his  gaze  with  a  look  of  grati 
tude,  and  the  other  with  the  aspect  of  a  craven-hearted  coward. 

"  And  this  is  the  reason  why  you  interposed  so  many  objections 
to  showing  me  hither?"  said  the  Earl  sternly. 

The  jailor  did  not  reply,  but  his  hands  shook,  as  though  they 
were  in  the  grasp  of  dissolution. 

"  Release  him,"  said  Lord  Rossmore. 

Christie  could  not  stand. 

"  Rub  his  limbs." 

"  Yes,  your  Lordship,*'  and  he  servilely  bent  to  the  task. 

"  Your  lordship  has  saved  me  from  death,"  said  Christie,  grate 
fully. 

"  And  this   miscreant  for  transportation.     Yield  those  keys  ; 
such  a  monster  may  not  retain  them  an  hour." 
.*'  Can  you  walk  now  ?"  he  asked  of  Christie. 

"  I  will  try,"  and  together  they  emerged  from  the  bowels  of  the 
earth  into  the  air.  One  victim  of  the  disgraceful  law  authorizing 
imprisonment  for  debt,  escaped  the  clutches  of  his  persecutor,  and 
walked  the  earth  a  freeman  once  more. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"  How  hard  we  strove  to  save  her,  love 
Like  ours  alone  can  tell, 
And  only  those  know  what  we  lost 
Who've  loved  the  lost  as  well." — EASTMAN. 

MRS.  KANE  sought  employment  with  her  needle,  but  the  small 
compensation  she  received  would  not,  with  the  pittance  earned  by 
Henry,  buy  food  for  them  and  pay  the  rent.  Her  landlord  had 
already  called  twice,  and  the  last  time  he  threatened  to  turn  her 
into  the  street,  if  the  rent  was  not  paid  in  one  week.  Some  other 
plan  must  be  adopted.  She  reflected  long  and  painfully  upon  her 
prospects,  and  at  last  she  could  see  no  other  way  of  keeping  want 
from  her  fireside,  but  to  wean  her  baby,  and  wet-nurse  some  other 
child.  It  was  after  many  struggles  that  she  brought  her  mind  to 
sanction  this  painful  alternative,  but  there  was  no  other  recourse. 
She  made  inquiries,  and  found  a  man  whose  wife  had  died,  leaving 
him  four  children,  the  youngest  of  which  was  six  months  old.  He 
consented  to  let  Mrs.  Kano  take  the  child  to  her  own  house.  And 
now  commenced  the  disagreeable  task — disagreeable  to  every 
mother  who  is  fond  of  her  offspring — of  weaning  the  poor  little 
fellow  whom  necessity  had  forced  to  yield  his  natural  sustenance 


126  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

to  a  stranger.  In  no  way  are  the  distinctions  of  society  more 
jLvidly  illustrated  than  by  the  career  of  two  infants.  One,  a  hale 
rosy-cheeked  girl,  plainly  but  neatly  clad,  is  the  joy  of  a  lowly 
dwelling.  The  father  thinks  of  her  often  during  the  long  day  of 
toil.  Her  bright  face  interposes  itself  between  him  and  the  fierce 
rays  of  the  sun ;  it  wards  off  the  rain  ;  her  breath  cools  him  in 
summer,  and  her  eyes  warm  him  in  winter.  She  is  the  angel  that 
stands  between  him  and  the  bottle.  She  arrests  his  hand  when  it 
is  raised  in  anger,  and  she  soothes,  and  guides,  and  controls  his 
passions.  Well,  necessity  forces  him  to  send  her  away  ;  it  is  hard, 
very  hard  ;  but  they  can  get  her  wet  nursed  for  half  the  money 
that  his  wife  can  earn  by  nursing  some  other  child.  The  little  girl 
is  sent  among  strangers,  to  encounter  neglect,  sickness,  and  death. 
Its  mother,  always  under  the  eye  of  her  foster  child's  parents,  can 
not,  if  she  would,  neglect  her  duties  ;  and  the  boy  thrives,  and  coos, 
and  doubles  up  his  chubby  hands,  as  if  he  could  successfully  battle 
with  life.  And  as  she  bends  over  her  new  charge,  the  tears  fall 
upon  his  cheek  ;  he  looks  up  wonderingly,  for  he  don't  know  that 
the  price  of  his  health  and  happiness,  is  the  cold,  silent  form  that 
was  locked  up  a  few  days  before  in  the  ground;  never  more  to 
gladden  the  hearts  of  its  parents  by  its  winning  smile,  never  more 
to  lay  its  cheek  but  upon  the  bosom  of  its  mother  earth. 

Mary  Kane  proceeded  to  execute  her  plans,  when  they  were 
once  matured,  with  as  much  resolution  as  she  could  command. 
When  the  child  tasted  the  bitter  substance  upon  her  bosom,  he 
drew,  at  first,  angrily  away.  It  was  his  first  taste  of  life's  bitter 
experience.  For  hours  he  lay  in  the  cradle  with  his  large  round 
black  eyes  riveted  upon  her  countenance,  as  though  his  wee  bit  of 
a  brain  was  trying  to  find  some  reason  why  his  mother,  always  so 
kind  before,  now  treated  him  so  cruelly.  Wearied  out  at  last,  he 
fell  into  an  uneasy  slumber,  from  which  he  often  awoke,  crying  as 
if  his  heart  would  break.  And  his  mother  wept,  too,  burning  tears, 
yet  necessity  still  urged  her  on.  At  length  he  turned  his  eyes 
with  a  look  of  disgust  towards  the  sweetened  drink  prepared  for 
him,  and  with  a  little  groan,  swallowed  it.  Frank  Tot  was  weaned, 
and  now  she  took  the  motherless  stranger  to  her  bosom.  She  was 
kind  to  him,  for  she  thought  of  her  own  baby  placed,  as  this  help 
less  thing  was,  among  strangers.  No  female  but  one  who  has 
known  maternity,  can  feel  that  love  for  children  which  their  help 
less  condition  demands. 

All  her  sacrifices  proved  unavailing  ;  she  could  not  pay  the  rent. 
An  officer  was  sent  to  remove  her  into  the  street.  It  was  a  dark, 
cold,  raw  day  in  December  when  he  came  to  perform  his  duty. 
The  wind,  clothed  in  fog,  thrust  its  cold  grasp  into  the  hands  and 
faces  of  all  who  were  exposed  to  its  rude  touch.  Not  content  with 
such  familiarities,  it  pulled  aside  the  ragged  garments  of  the  poor 
as  if  it  scoffed  at  their  sufferings ;  it  seized  hold  of  their  nerves, 
and  went  shrieking  with  laughter  among  the  houses  and  along  the 
streets,  because  they  trembled  in  its  grasp.  Even  the  rich  and 
well  clad  shuddered  at  its  approach,  and  hastening  home,  seated 
themselves  by  the  blazing  fires.  The  sun  was  going  down,  and  he, 
too,  expressed  his  dissatisfaction  at  the  rude  assaults  of  the  wind 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  127 

upon  the  city,  for  he  cast  an  indignant  glance  upon  the  clouds  from 
his  flushed  countenance. 

On  such  a  night  as  this  did  the  officer,  accompanied  by  Hurdy, 
enter  the  room  where  Mrs.  Kane  and  two  of  her  children  were,  for 
Henry  had  not  yet  returned.  The  unhappy  woman  sank,  overcome 
with  terror,  into  her  seat. 

"  Prepared  to  liquidate,  madam  T'  he  inquired,  glibly,  as  he  cock 
ed  his  hat  on  one  side,  and  drew  a  lease  from  among  a  package  of 
papers. 

"  You  have  not  come  to  demand  the  rent  now  V'  she  asked, 
faintly. 

"  I  have,  Mrs.  Kane,"  he  replied,  in  a  voice  intended  to  close  all 
discussion. 

"Then  we  are  undone." 

"  Doubtless  ;  I've  frequently  known  it — bureau — to  be  the  case 
— bedstead—" 

"  But  the  landlord  told  me  I  should  not  be  molested  for^ten  days 
when  he  was  here  last,  and  that  was  only  three  days  ago." 

"  Very  likely — straw  mattrass — he  ain't  your  landlord  any  long 
er — cradle — " 

"  Not  my  landlord  V 

"  No— table— " 

"  Who  is,  then  ?"  * 

"  Tongs — Mr.  Greasebeans — " 

'•  The  manufacturer  ?" 

"  Solomon — pot — Greasebeans — " 

"  Oh,  then,  I  implore  you  to  wait.  Mr.  Greasebeans  is  rich  ;  he 
is  charitable ;  and  I  kno'w  he  will  not  turn  me  into  the  street,  and 
sell  this  small  stock  of  furniture." 

"  Don't  know — shovel — him  told  me  an  hour  ago  not  to  let  you 
— trunk — stay  here — that's  all — another  night." 

"  What  shall  I  do  1  what  shall  I  do  ?""  exclaimed  Mrs.  Kane, 
wildly. 

"  Can't  say."  coolly  replied  the  officer. 

"  Mrs.  Kane,  I  can  furnish  you  with  an  apartment  until  you  can 
find  another,"  said  Hurdy,  with  a  sinister  expression  upon  his  feat 
ures. 

"  Monster !  do  you  think  Mary  Kane  is  sunk  so  low  as  to  re 
ceive  a  favor  from  the  brute  who  kidnapped  her  husband  T'  said  Mrs. 
Kane,  indignantly. 

"  Oh,  very  well ;  we  shall  see  how  long  you  will  carry  yourself 
so  bravely,  my  pretty  dame,"  said  the  Ogre,  scornfully. 

At  this  moment  Henry  Kane  entered  the  room.     His  features 
were  attenuated ;  his  lips  were  blue,  and  his  thin  form  trembled 
with  the  cold.     But  his  strength  seemed  to  return  as  he  saw  the 
officer  and  Hurdy. 
^   "  Ma,  that  bad  man  has  made  you  cry." 

Mrs.  Kane  only  wept  the  more  bitterly. 

"  Well,  youngster,  what  have  you  to  say  why  your  mother  should 
not  be  ejected  by  Solomon  Greasebeans,  your  landlord." 

''  Mr.  Greasebeans  ?'' 

"  Yes." 


!28  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

''  A  great  deal  to  say.  Mr.  Greasebeans  won't  let  you  act  so 
cruelly,  for  he  is  president  of  a  charitable  society." 

"Which  will  benefit  you  about  as  much  as  it  will  me.  But, 
come,  I  can't  dally  here,  so  march  out." 

u  Mr.  Officer,  we  shall  freeze  to  death  in  the  streets  to-night.  If 
it  was  summer,  we  could  all  sleep  under  the  tree  near  the  park,  for 
the  leaves  would  keep  off  the  dew.  But  now  there  are  no  leaves 
on  the  tree  ;  the  limbs  are  all  covered  with  icicles,  and  the  cold 
wind  makes  the  branches  creak  and  groan.  Poor  Frank  Tot 
wouldderit  live  there  till  morning,  Mr.  Officer.  Now  pray  think, 
if  your  boys  and  girls  should  be  turned  into  the  street  to-night,  what 
would  you  say  ?" 

"  I  would  say  it  was  a  d d  rascally,  unfeeling  business,"  ex 
claimed  the  officer,  whose  eyes  had  moistened  during  the  appeal  of 
Henry  Kane. 

"  Better  think  of  what  Mr.  Greasebeans  will  say,"  whispered 
Hurdy. 

'I  What  can  I  do  ?"  said  the  officer. 

4  Let  us  remain  here  until  morning,  and  I  will  then  go  and  see 
Mr.  Greasebeans,"  said  Henry. 

"  Perform  your  duty,  or  I  willl  tell  Mr.  Greasebeans  to-night," 
remarked  Hurdy,  with  rage  imprinted  upon  his  countenance. 

"  You  see  I  cannot  fet  you  remain,  however  much  I  may  desire 
it,"  replied  the  officer,  sheltering  himself,  as  is  customary  with  his 
class,  under  the  mantle  of  delegated  authority. 

"Will  you  let  my  mother  stay  here  one  hour?"  asked  Henry, 
eagerly. 

"  I  don't  see  how  the  law  will  admit  of  delay,"  said  the  officer. 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  Hurdy,  positively. 

"  For  one  hour ;  only  for  one  hour,"  said  the  child,  imploringly. 

The  officer  hesitated. 

"Yes,  I  will  do  that  much  for  you,  my  lad." 

"  Thank  you." 

Henry  put  on  his  straw  hat,  and  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  Henry,  Henry,  where  are  you  going  ?"  said  his  mother, 
anxiously. 

"  To  see  Mr.  Greasebeans." 

"  But,  my  child,  you  will  perish  this  cold  night." 

"  Better  for  me  to  die,  than  all  of  us.  But  I  shall  not  die.  It 
is  not  more  than  ten  blocks ;  I'll  soon  be  home." 

"  Stay,  then,  let  me  tie  this  handkerchief  about  your  ears." 

She  put  another  around  his  neck,  and  buttoning  his  coat  up  to 
his  chin,  kissed  his  cheek,  and  calling  him  her  noble  boy,  bade  him 
return  soon. 

"  Stop,  Henry,"  she  said,  as  he  was  unclosing  the  door.  "  You 
have  had  no  supper;  let  me  give  you  some  warm  tea." 

"  No,  ma,  we  must  not  expect  the  law  to  wait  for  boys  to  eat. 
I'll  be  back  soon,  though ;"  and  he  went  out  into  the  cold,  stormy 
night.  His  teeth  chattered,  his  blood  receded  to  his  heart,  and  his 
fingers  became  numb,  as  the  wind  pierced  his  thin  clothing,  and 
shook  the  rim  of  his  straw  hat,  as  if  in  derision  at  its  unseasonable 
appearance  ;  still  he  pressed  onward.  His  mind  dwelt  not  upon 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  120 

the  cutting1  storm,  as  it  rudely  sei/ed  him,  and  made  his  form  stagger 
beneath  its  grasp.  He  only  thought  of  his  mother,  Dolly,  and 
Frank  Tot,  and  the  little  stranger,  too,  who  was  intrusted  to  their 
charge.  In  imagination,  he  saw  her  clasp  the  two  babies  to  her 
bosom,  and  weep,  because  there  was  not  sufficient  warmth  to  keep 
their  limbs  from  stiffening.  There  was  a  swelling  in  his  throat, 
and  he  hurried  onwards. 

"  I  shall  be  too  late — I  know  I  shall  be  too  late,"  he  exclaimed, 
redoubling  his  speed. 

While  he  was  hurrying-  in  the  direction  of  Mr.  Greasebeans' 
mansion-house,  we  will  introduce  the  reader  within  the  walls  of 
that  building. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solomon  Greasebeans  had  yielded  to  the  solicita 
tions  of  their  son  and  daughter,  and  had  consented  to  give  them  a 
party.  Indeed,  as  they  sat  by  their  cheerful  fire  on  the  evening 
before  their  consent  was  announced,  Mrs.  G.  suggested  to  her 
husband,  that  it  was  time,  in  her  opinion,  to  make  an  exhibition  of 
their  furniture,  and  to  give  Seraphina  an  opportunity  of  displaying 
her  diamonds.  And  Marcian,  too,  required  some  relaxation,  for  he 
had  become  paler,  she  thought,  than  usual,  the  last  week,  Which 
paleness  was  in  fact  attributable  to  the  quantity  of  sweetmeats  that 
remarkable  individual  was  in  the  daily  habit  of  consuming,  com 
bined  with  the  attractions  of  Miss  Dancy  Dodds,  a  lank,  sallow- 
skinned  maiden,  who  favored  him  with  loving  glances  from  her 
biJious  eyes,  twice  a  day,  as  they  passed  each  other  upon  the  street. 
No  young  man's  susceptible  stomach  could  withstand  such  appeals, 
and  Marcian  Greasebeans  grew  pale  with  love.  Mr.  Greasebeans 
did  not  know  that  the  request  of  the  dear  children  teas  unreason 
able.  As  for  exhibiting  the  furniture,  he  could  see  no  particular 
necessity  for  doing  anything  of  the  land  ;  for,  like  all  men,  he 
thought  every  responsibility  was  discharged  when  he  gave  his 
check  for  it.  It  was  the  women,  alone,  who  knew  that  then  was 
the  moment  when  the  responsibility  of  making  a  proper  exhibition 
of  the  furniture  commenced.  So  it  was  agreed  that  Seraphina  and 
Marcian  should  have  a  party.  And  now  the  difficult  task  com 
menced  of  deciding  who  should  be  invited,  and  who  should  be  cut. 
For  if  the  uninitiated  think  it  is  a  pleasure  to  make  out  a  list  of 
our  friends  for  the  purpose  of  making  them  happy,  they  are  most 
woefully  mistaken.  Does  it  not  require  the  most  Intense  discrimi 
nation  to  know  whom  to  invite?  If  an  invitation  is  extended  to 
Miss  Jones,  what  will  Miss  Smith  say?  If  Miss  Brown  is  cut, 
what  will  her  cousin  Miss  White  say  ?  And  if  she  sends  a  regret 
because  Miss  Brown  is  not  invited,  will  not  the  party  be  a  failure? 
Could  a  party  be  "  a  go"  without  the  presence  of  Miss  White  ? 
Had  the  tallow-chandler  in  the  next  street  amassed  sufficient 
money  to  make  his  daughter  respectable  ?  They  would  try  and 
come  at  it  as  nearly  as  possible,  by  getting  papa  to  ascertain  what 
his  balance  in  bank  was.  Had  Lawyer  Dibblee  acquired  sufficient 
notoriety  at  the  bar,  to  prevent  people  asking  who  Miss  Laura  Dib 
blee  was  ?  Had  Dinctum  Dowdy  withdrawn  from  the  commercial 
house  of  Feejack  and  Dowdy  (a  house  engaged  extensively  in  the 
manure  line)  long  enough  to  make  his  daughter  a  proper  associate 

7 


130  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

for  Miss  Greasebeans  ?  There  could  be  no  doubt  of  it,  it'  his  for 
tune  was  correctly  stated  at  one  hundred  thousand  pounds,  and  not 
twenty-five  thousand,  as  it  was  sometimes  put  down.  Seventy- 
five  thousand  pounds  would  make  an  enormous  difference  in  the 
claim  of  Miss  Dowdy  for  admission  into  genteel  society.  Would 
it  do  to  have  the  Dunlaps,  who  were  at  the  head  of  society — that 
branch  of  society — one  year  ago,  but  who  were  now  very  consid 
erably  reduced  in  circumstances,  owing  to  several  heavy  losses  ? 
Did  the  Longs  dress  well  enough  1 — Of  their  respectability  there 
could  be  no  doubt.  Would  the  splendid  diamonds  of  Mrs.  Baxter 
obliterate  the  recollection  of  the  slight  f ayx-pas  that  was  associated 
with  the  name  of  Maj.  Duke,  in  the  life-time  of  the  excellent  but 
now  defunct  William  Henry  Baxter?  Could  saddlers,  under  any 
circumstances,  be  requested  to  come  ?  Were  merchant  tailors- 
admissible  ?  If  not,  were  tailleurs  ?  Should  retail  merchants  be 
considered  presentable,  and  if  so,  would  it  do  to  invite  wholesale 
grocers  ?  Would  it  be  possible  to  induce  Lord  Snizzle  to  "  drop 
in"  for  a  few  minutes,  just  to  give  an  air  of  fashion  to  the  enter 
tainment,  and  make  the  Durgins  burst  with  envy  1  He  had  ogled 
Miss  Greasebeans  with  impertinent  condescension  at  Bath,  for  one 
whole  evening,  when  her  dress  was  worn  so  low  in  the  neck  as  to 
make  a  liberal  display  of  her  really  very  fine  bust.  A.nd  twice  he 
had  sweetly  addressed  her  in  the  street,  by  raising  his  hat.  But 
this  was  not  all.  He  had,  at  Brighton,  so  far  stooped  from  his 
lofty  position,  as  to  magnetize  her — his  lordship  did  sometimes 
condescend  to  magnetize  plebeians,  provided  they  were  good-look 
ing,  and  young ;  for  he  had  been  heard  to  say.  that,  although  he 
did  occasionally  favor  ladies  who  had  arrived  at  the  matronly  age 
of  thirty,  with  a  few  sparks  of  magnetic  fire,  yet  it  was  only  in 
obedience  to  their  imploring  glances,  and  the  benevolence  of  his 
heart,  as  he  not  only  found,  after  they  had  arrived  at  the  age  of 
thirty,  that  their  nerves  were  not  so  sensitive  to  the  touch,  but  that 
in  several  instances  he  had  found  them  decidedly  tough  ;  some  few 
of  them  having,  in  addition  thereto,  favored  him  with  very  bad 
breath.  A  most  unfeeling  remark,  which,  having  gained  credence, 
prevented  any  further  annoyance  from  females  who  had  numbered 
thirty  years  of  age,  especially  whose  breath  was  not  fragrant.  It 
was  supposed  Lord  Snizzle  had  a  preference  for  young  and  bloom 
ing  maidens,  because  it  was  a  more  pleasant  operation  to  magnetize 
them  ;  and  therefore,  among  the  plans  that  were  suggested  for  the 
purpose  of  inducing  him  to  "  drop  in"  for  a  few  moments,  on  the 
night  of  the  party,  was  to  let  him  take  a  few  "  innocent  liberties" 
with  Seraphina,  as  that  was  known,  in  certain  cases,  to  have  a 
magical  effect.  Of  course  such  a  proceeding  would  alone  be 
admissible  in  the  case  of  a  lord  ;  the  social  position  of  the  party, 
thus  to  be  favored,  making  all  the  difference  imaginable.  It  was 
considered  indispensable,  also,  to  secure  the  attendance  of  Lady 
Madaline  Flouncy,  the  natural  daughter  of  the  late  Earl  of  Dumpy. 
It  is  true  she  was  not  born  in  wedlock,  but  what  of  that  ?  Did  not 
the  blood  of  an  earl  flow  in  her  veins  ?  And  what  offspring  of 
matrimony,  among  the  middle  classes,  could  claim  equality  with 
her?  The  fame  of  her  mother  was  dishonored,  but  then  her  father 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  131 

was  a  belted  earl,  and  besides  she  was  ENORMOUSLY  rich,  and 
that,  of  itself,  was  enough  to  elevate  her  to  any  conceivable  height 
above  the  less  favored,  though  decidedly  more  respectable,  plebeians 
of  the  town. 

These  and  a  hundred  other  considerations  were  perpetually  sug 
gesting  themselves,  not  only  to  Marcian  and  Seraphina,  but  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Solomon  Greasebeans.  At  last  every  obstacle  was  sur 
mounted,  and  their  plans  were  matured  ;  a  consummation  which 
was  announced  in  the  following  letter  from  Seraphina  to  her  bosom 
friend  Henrietta  Maria  Flu  kins. 

"  No.  10  Dumpy  Court. 

Darlingest  Henrietta 
Maria  iMukms.     Dear  Friend. 

1  intimated  to  you  somewhat  perspi 
cuously  in  my  last,  that  papa  and  mama  had  yielded  to  my  and 
Marcian's  entreaties  to  give  us  a  blow-out,  in  honor  of  my  twenti 
eth  birth-day.  Seventeenth  birth-day  as  we  tell  the  world,  but  in 
confidence,  it  is  the  twentieth.  I  told  ma  it  was  the  most  unrea- 
sonablest  thing  in  the  world  not  to  give  me  a  party  until  four  years 
after  I  had  completed  my  heducation,  and  she  said  she  thought  so 
too.  So  we  are  to  hev  a  blow-out.  It  is  to  be  a  particular  affair, 
very.  We  hev  maid  up  our  minds  to  cut  all  but  the  rich,  and  con 
sequentially,  respectable,  of  our  friends,  because  ma  says  the  house 
of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co.  is  looking  up.  What  do  you 
think,  Henrietta  Maria  Flukins  ?  I'll  tell  you.  I'm  all  but  positive 
Lord  Snizzle  will  honor  us  with  his  presence  !  !  Them  hateful 
Smithers  said  last  week,  after  I  had  boasted  that  his  lordship  would 
drop  in  at  our  party,  that  Lord  S'nizzle  was  not  much  thought  of 
among  the  best  society  of  London,  he  was  so — I  forget  the  word, 
it  was  something  like  them  things  that  the  farmer  folks  use  when 
they  gether  hay— oh,  I  hev  it— so  rakish.  I  didn't  know  what  that 
meant  until  I  looked  at  the  dicshonary.  But  ma  said  that  is  not 
considered  an  objection  to  a  lord.  So  I  said  last  night,  loud  enough 
for  the  Smithers  to  hear  me,  /  can  tell  you,  that  Lord  Snizzle  didn't 
bestow  his  attentions  upon  some  people.  They  said  it  "  was  a  fact, 
for  he  was  not  permitted  by  some  person^  to  look  at  them  when 
their  veils  were  up."  I  replied  we — Lord  Snizzle  and  myself— 
despises  common  vulgar  folks  like  some  I  could  mention,  and  they 
said  their  "  contempt  was  supremest  for  both  me  and  Snizzle." 
Snizzle !  Think  of  calling  him  Snizzle  !  without  the  alliteration 
of  Lord  !  Contempt  for  Snizzle  !  Lord  Snizzle  !  Eldest  son  of 
the  Duke  of  Minkey.  Won't  he  feel  unhappy  when  he  learns  in 
what  estimation  he  is  held  by  the  Smithers  ?  For  I  shall  tell  him 
every  word  they  said  about  him,  it  will  make  him  so  grateful,  and 
I  know  they  are  dying  to  get  him  into  their  house. 

We  shall  have  a  grand  affair.  Pa  says  it  will  require  several 
things  to  make  people  believe  we  are  the  cream  of  fashion,  and  the 
leaders  of  quality.  Fust,  we  must  have  at  least  twenty  musicion- 
ers.  Second,  it  is  indispensably  necessary  to  have  Mr.  Brown  to 
open  the  carriag-edoors  and  whistle  so  that  the  servant  may  open 
the  hall-door  ;  for  he  say*  it  absolutely  requires  Brown's  presence 


132  ENGLISH    S*:RFDOM 

to  give  the  affair  a  distingee — as  the  French  say — appearance,  and 
without  him  everybody  will  think  us  nobodys.  I  told  pa  I  didn't 
see  how  sich  a  fat,  greasy-looking  fellow  could  make  us  fishiona- 
ble,  but  he  said  Brown  opened  the  carriage-doors  of  the  Spradlins, 
and  Spriggins,  the  Jones,  and  Rimes,  which  you  see  was  conclusive. 
Third,  the  world  judges  of  your  claims  by  the  quantity  of  bokays 
you  can  muster,  and  so  he  has  sent  to  all  the  florists  in  London  and 
Liverpool  for  all  the  bokays  they  can  make.  Ma  told  him  the 
guests  would  think  a  great  deal  more  of  the  party,  and  praise  it 
ever  so  warmly  if  they  had  plenty  of  good  things  to  eat,  and  that, 
too,  without  being  crowded,  for  when  they  were  crowded  and 
jostled  they  got  their  brussels  up,  like  hogs.  So  we  are  to  have  a 
table  loaded  down  with  every  thing  nice.  Pa  said  he  should  be 
forced  to  give  a  little  less  to  the  abolition  cause  at-the  next  meet 
ing  ;  which  he  can  safely  do,  for  he  has  got  his  name  up  for  being 
liberal.  He  thinks  what  he  can  save  in  that  way,  and  by  reducing 
the  wages  of  his  operatives,  and  being  very  severe  upon  his  tenants 
here  and  in  the  country,  he  can  afford  to  give  what  will  be  called  a 
magnificent  entertainment. 

But  you  can  judge  for  yourself,  as  you  will  not  fail  to  be  present. 
And  you  must — excuse  me  for  the  liberty — dear  Henrietta  Maria 
Flukins — get  a  splendid  dress  and  wear  all  your  diamonds.  We 
have  given  out  that  it  will  be  a  grand  affair,  so  that  the  ladies  will 
dress  superficially,  and  in  good  taste,  for  costly  dresses  go  half  way 
to  make  up  a  splendid  party. 

As  ever  thine,  till  death,  and  afterwards 

through  my  mortal  existence 

Dear  Henrietta  Maria  r  lukins 

Thy  friend 

Seraphina  Greasebeans. 

P.  S.  Dearest  Henrietta  Maria,  I  shall  ask  Lord  Snizzle  if  he 
will  consent  to  be  introduced  to  you,  as  my  Articular  friend  ;  which 
I  am  sure  he  will,  if  you  wear  your  dress  modestly,  invitingly  low 
in  the  neck. 

Thine 

Seraph.  G. 

N.  B.  P.  S.  Don't  hi*H  anything  about  the  low  neck  dresses  to 
the  Membertons  ;  if  you  do,  his  lordship  will  be  too  permiskus  in  his 

devotions. 

Till  death 

S.  G.  beans." 

After  a  world  of  anxiety  and  preparation,  the  evening  of  the 
party  arrived.  Mrs.  and  Miss  Greasebeans  stood  in  the  front  par 
lor,  near  the  door,  looking  quite  fatigued,  but  receiving  their  guests 
as  'they  poured  in,  with  the  sweetest  smiles  imaginable,  as  if  the 
particular  period  of  time  when  each  individual  was  presented,  con 
stituted,  by  many  thrills  of  pleasure,  the  happiest  moments  of  then- 
whole  lives.  Not  that  all  were  received  with  the  same  bend  of 
the  neck,  or  welcomed  with  the  same  expressions.  Still  the  eondfr- 
scension  which  was  exhibited  to  one,  and  the  fawning  sycophancy 
observed  to  another,  seemed  to  give  them  equal  joy.  It  war,  really 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  188 

affecting  to  remark  how^winningly  Seraphina  displayed  a  charmiifg 
regard  for  maternal  example  ;  for  if  Mrs.  Greasebeans  seized  the 
right  hand  of  a  new  comer  in  both  her  own,  as  if  one  could  not  ex 
press  the  overflowing  effusions  of  her  too  ardent  impulses,  Seraphi 
na  availed  herself  of  the  aforesaid  right  hand  as  soon  as  it  was 
suffered  to  escape,  when  it  passed  through  another  pressure,  sig 
nificant  of  unbounded  and  irrepressible  affection.  If,  on  the  con 
trary,  a  stately,  yet  patronizing  reception  only,  was  awarded  by 
the  mother,  it  was  reiterated  with  as  much  precision  by  the  daugh 
ter  as  if  she  was  merely  that  lady's  shadow. 

And  thus  they  continued  bowing,  and  squeezing,  and  smirking, 
and  smiling  through  two  mortal  hours,  when  the  rooms  were  filled 
to  an  acceptable  degree  of  suffocation  ;  that  is  to  say,  acceptable  to 
the  Greasebeans,  who,  like  all  hosts,  care  very  little  how  uncom 
fortable  their  guests  may  be,  provided  they  are  well  jammed.  It 
is  essentially  necessary  that  they  pass  through  that  ordeal,  if  the 
party  is  to  be  stamped  as  "  a  go."  There  was  one  drawback,  how 
ever',  to  all  this  splendid  exhibition  of  beauty,  diamonds,  and  lace, 
and  it  caused  Mrs.  and  Miss  Greasebeans  several  unpleasant  sen 
sations.  The  most  distinguished  of  their  friends,  and  those  who 
they  particularly  desired  should  be  present,  absented  themselves, 
as  is  invariably  the  case  ;  while  the  common  people,  whose  absence 
nobody  would  remark,  were  there  in  full  force.  This  fact  did  not 
escape  the  notice  of  the  anxious  mother  and  daughter. 

"  Ma,  why  don't  the  Tadpoles  come  V  whispered  Seraphina,  as 
she  cast  her  eyes  at  the  clock.  "  See,  it  is  half-past  ten,  and  not 
a  Tadpole  here." 

•"And  the  Rumpdings.  too?" 

"As  I  live,  yes.  If  the  Beldens  only  had  stayed  at  home  in 
stead  of  the  Kirnpdings  ;  but  such  good  fortune  never  could  be  ex 
pected." 

"  And  Lord  Snizzle  has  not  made  his  appearance  yet." 

"  Don't  I  feel  it,  ma  ?  but  I  hope  my  face  does  not  proclaim  my 
chagrin.  There,  that  hypocritical  minx,  Henrietta  Maria  Flukins, 
has  asked  me  twice  to-night  if  I  was  not  going  to  introduce  her  to 
his  lordship,  and  with  such  a  demure  countenance,  too.  I  am  con 
fident  she  knows  he  is  not  here.  There,  see  her  now,  she  is  whis 
pering  to  that  ojeous  Miss  Twisdale,  and  smiling  so  maliciously, 
and  she  the  friend  of  my  bosom.  Thank  Heaven  !  Lord  Snizzle 
has  come." 

And  the  happy  maiden  gave  the  noble  man  an  exceedingly  low 
courtesy,  as  he  stood  in  the  hall  a  few  moments  before  ascending 
to  the  drawing-room,  superciliously  examining  the  company  with, 
the  single  glass  that  he  thrust  into  the  socket  of  his  right  eye,  re 
taining  it  there  by  a  contraction  of  the  muscles  that  are  located  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  brow  and  the  upper  region  of  the  cheek,  that 
was  fearful  to  contemplate,  and  giving  to  a  usually  placid  counte 
nance  a  most  malignant  and  sanguinary  expression. 

Miss  Greasebeans  was  impaled  upon  any  conceivable  number  ot 
thorns,  until  he  was  seen  descending  the  stair-case  with  that  minc 
ing  gait,  presumed  to  be  so  appropriate  in  the  son  of  a  duke.  She 
had  never  imagined  it  possible  that  half  an  hour  of  precious  time 


134  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

could  be  frittered  away  in  the  dressing-room  by  even  Lord  Snizzle. 
She  was  not  aware  that  his  lordship,  by  a  frequent  reference  to  his 
repeater,  was  making  a  nice  calculation  as  to  the  probable  time 
which  must  elapse  before  the  splendid  supper — that  was,  to  him, 
the  most  important  item  in  the  entertainment — would  be  announced. 
It  was  then,  with  patience  whittled  down  to  the  merest  point,  that 
the  young  lady  saw  him  reach  the  hall  floor.  Again  the  eye-glass 
was  thrust  into  the  socket,  with  a  painful  disregard  of  consequences, 
a  decent  respect  for  the  feelings  of  spectators,  and  a  reckless 
contempt  for  the  sympathies  which  the  extraordinary  procedure 
could  not  fail  of  eliciting.  It  was  alarming  to  think  what  a  hor 
rible  corpse  he  would  make  if  his  face  should  freeze  in  that  condi 
tion  ;  a  dilemma,  the  mere  apprehension  of  which  will,  no  doubt, 
induce  all  who  are  in  the  habit  of  indulging  in  such  fiendish  gri 
maces  to  abandon  the  practice  forever. 

Miss  Greasebeans  lost  sight  of  all  her  other  guests,  and  seizing 
Lord  Snizzle  by  the  arm,  walked  back  and  forth  between  the  ad 
miring  line  of  spectators,  with  as  much  certainty  of  monopolizing 
universal  admiration,  as  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gimcrack  did,  while  they 
were  dancing  the  mazurka  on  the  night  of  their  wedding,  in  pursu 
ance  of  the  heraldic  announcement  that  the  company  would  yield  a 
sufficient  space,  while  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gimcrack,  the  bride  and  bride 
groom,  performed  the  dance  aforesaid  :  a  performance  which  the 
reader  is  assured  did  actually  take  place. 

The  attention  of  Miss  Greasebeans  was  absorbed  by  his  lordship  ; 
and  all  the  intimation  she  gave  of  there  being  any  other  person  in 
the  room  was  in  side-long,  spiteful  glances  at  Henrietta  Maria  Flu 
kins.  Not  that  his  lordship  indulged  much  in  conversation,  for  the 
Cockney  nobility  are  sometimes  extremely  taciturn,  which  those 
gifted  with  rare  colloquial  powers  have  maliciously  attributed  to  a 
want  of  ideas  :  an  opinion  that  no  doubt  had  its  origin  in  the  envy 
inspired  by  a  consciousness  of  occupying  a  lower  stratum  in  the 
social  organization. 

Several  times  Henrietta  Maria  Flukins  threw  herself  in  the  way 
of  an  introduction  so  significantly,  that  Seraphina  was  forced  to  give 
a  negative  shake  of  the  head,  intimating  thereby  that  Lord  Snizzle 
might  not  wish  to  extend  his  list  of  acquaintances.  But  his  lord 
ship  did  not  twist  his  face  into  diabolical  contortions  for  nothing. 
The  remarkably  fine  bust  of  Miss  Flukins  was  "  modestly,  invit 
ingly"  displayed,  in  pursuance  of  Miss  Greasebeans'  suggestion  ; 
and  every  time  the  noble  man  passed  her,  the  stare  with  which  he 
honored  her  was  materially  prolonged.  That  young  lady  was  at  a 
loss  to  divine  his  intentions.  At  one  moment  she  judged,  from  the 
shadows  upon  his  convulsed  physiognomy,  that  he  was  in  the  act 
of  addressing  her,  like  Niobe,  with  tears,  for  she  had  noticed  simi 
lar  grimaces  upon  the  face  of  her  little  brother,  Sydenham,  previ 
ous  to  an  explosion  ;  but  while  she  was  in  the  act  of  getting  her 
handkerchief  and  her  sympathies  ready  for  the  catastrophe,  the 
muscles  seemed  to  contract,  the  face  assumed  a  fierce  expression, 
as  if  he  contemplated  a  violent  assault  upon  her  person  :  a  revul 
sion  partly  attributable  to  the  gas-light,  and  somewhat  to  a  spas 
modic  effort  necessary  to  retain  the  eye-glass  in  its  position.  As 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  18ft 

she  was  timidly  watching  the  transition,  the  muscles  of  the  brow 
and  cheek  suddenly  collapsed,  and  the  eye-glass  fell  to  his  waist 
band. 

"  Demmed  foine  queter  that ;  who  's  she  V 
"  Your  lordship  is  kind  to  ask  about  any  of  my  company, ' 
replied  Seraphina,  simperingly,  as  she  permitted  more  of  her  pre 
cious  weight  to  rest  upon  his  arm — thus  revealing,  as  a  counter 
poise  to  the  physical  attraction  of  Henrietta  Maria  Flukins,  what 
Sir  Walter  Scott  thought  right  to  call  "  faint  glimpses  of  a  breast 
of  snow."  The  exhibition  seemed,  however,  to  fail  of  its  intended 
and  indeed  its  legitimate  effect,  for  his  lordship's  gaze  was  riveted 
upon  the  voluptuous  form  of  the  Flukins. 

"  I  think  she'll  do.  Yeas — you  may — I  think  you  may  present 
her." 

There  was  now  no  other  alternative,  for  the  request  was 
made  with  a  distinctness  of  tone  which  reached  the  ears  of  Miss 
Flukins. 

"  Lord  Snizzle,  my  most  perticlerest  friend,  Miss  Henrietta 
Maria  Flukins."  ''. 

The  noble  man  vouchsafed  one  of  his  fiercest  glances,  as  he  set 
his  eye-glass  with  an  inclination  more  decidedly  towards  the  nose 
than  usual.  Seraphina  now  found  an  opportunity  of  showing  ordi 
nary  politeness  to  the  rest  of  her  guests,  as  the  signs  were  favor 
able  to  a  monopoly  by  Miss  Flukins  of  Timothy,  Lord  Snizale.  It 
was  readily  seen  that  Miss  Flukins  was  elated  to  a  degree  which 
foreboded  no  permanent  benefit  to  her  nervous  system.  There 
was  no  evidence  of  that  languor  which  is  sometimes  begotten  of 
indifference  ;  on  the  contrary,  her  motions  indicated  the  vivifying 
elasticity  of  every  nerve,  muscle,  and  tendon  of  the  body.  She 
seemed  to  be  set  on  any  number  of  springs,  every  one  of  which 
had  a  violent  proclivity  for  teetering,  which  strongly  resembled  St. 
Vitus's  dance  in  its  most  aggravated  form.  Her  gesticulations 
were  absolutely  spasmodic,  when  earnestly  impressing  some  trifling 
matter  upon  his  lordship's  attention.  If  he  deigned  to  interrupt 
her,  the  spasms  ceased,  except  so  far  as  they  were  made  available 
in  assisting  her  to  keep  step  with  his  somewhat  erratic  strides. 
This  difficult  feat  was  accomplished — for  it  was  a  difficult  feat, 
because  Timothy,  Lord  Snizzle,  considered  it  one  of  the  preroga 
tives,  that  rightly  appertained  to  his  superior  rank,  to  take  short  or 
long  steps,  without  regard  either  to  the  convenience  of  his  com 
panion,  or  the  length  of  her  legs — by  paying  undivided  attention  to 
his  motions,  and  taking  enormous  strides,  or  halting  abruptly,  as 
the  exigency  of  the  case  required.  From  what  has  been  said,  it 
will  not  be  inferred  that  any  of  Miss  Flukins'  everyday  admirers 
were  brought  within  the  circle  of  her  smiles.  For  aught  that  could 
be  discovered  in  her  demeanor,  she  might  never  have  listened  with 
blushing  cheeks  and  beating  heart  to  more  humble  swains  than  her 
present  aristocratic  companion  ;  and  yet,  there  were  not  less  than  a 
dozen  gentlemen  present,  made  up  of  a  promiscuous  assortment  of 
clerks,  sub-lieutenants,  bank-tellers,  merchants  in  a  small  way,  &c. 
&c.,  who  had,  each  in  his  turn,  been  made  happy,  in  believing 
that  the  dearest,  sweetest  smile,  of  the  Flukins  was  lavished  upon 


136  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

them.  One  of  the  number,  a  highly  respectable  merchant  tailor, 
on  the  strength  of  sundry  of  those  dearest,  sweetest  smiles,  that, 
not  being-  more  than  forty-eight  hours  old,  still  played  about  his 
heart,  and  emboldened,  also,  by  the  well-known  dogma  that  the 
"  tailor  makes  the  man,"  which  he  assumed  more  particularly 
referred  to  Timothy,  Lord  Snizzle,  and  gentlemen  of  his  calibre, 
walked  deliberately  up  to  Miss  Flukins,  and  hoped,  as  she  was 
looking  extremely  well,  she  was  enjoying  herself  correspond 
ingly. 

No  stately  swan  ever  bent  its  neck  more  haughtily,  at  the 
approach  of  a  vulgar  g%>se,  than  did  the  queenly  Flukins,  at  the 
salutation  of  its  prototype.  Mr.  Presswell,  not  entertaining  the 
slightest  doubt  that  he  liftd  spoken  in  too  low  a  key,  reiterated  his 
hopes. 

"  Do  you  not  see,  sir,  that  I  am  engaged,  particularly  engaged," 
replied  the  beauty,  decidedly. 

The  features  of  Lord  Snizzle  became,  unusually  convulsed,  as 
he  thrust  the  glass  into  the  socket  of  his  eye,  and  coming  to  a 
dead  halt,  critically  examined  Mr.  Presswell  from  crown  to  toe. 

"  Who  is  the  queter.  Miss  Faluns'?" 

"  Your  lordship  ought  t<i  know  me,  for  there  is  a  charge  on  my 
books  for  that  suit,  and  a  , dozen  others/' replied  Presswell,  with 
sturdy  independence. 

"  I'm  blistered  if  'tain't  my  denimed  tail-or  !" 

Miss  Greasebeans  thought  she  should  make  a  hole  in  the  floor 
about  the  size  of  her  body. 

"  I  told  you,  ma,  not  to  invite  that-ojeous  mechanic." 

"  Is  he,  aw,  one  of  your  acquaintance.  Miss  Fukins  ?n 

k<  Never  saw  the  fellow  before,  my  lord." 

"  If  the  supper  ain't  announced  soon,  I'll  quit  thishowid  place, rr 
said  Snizzle. 

The  supper  was  announced  at  that  moment,  and  his  lordship, 
however  much  he  might  despise  tailors,  and  particularly  those  at 
whose  establishments  his  credit  had  arrived  at  a  "  mature"  age, 
was  nevertheless  fond  of  good  suppers,  and  he  therefore  waived  an 
expression  of  his  indignation,  at  being  thus  inveigled,  by  the 
Greasebeans,  into  such  a  mixed  assemblage,  until  he  had  par 
taken  of  their  hospitality,  and  thereby  gained  sufficient  strength  to 
denounce  their  meanness  in  fitting  terms. 

As  the  large  company  were  ascending  to  the  supper-room  to  the 
music  of  "  Urittania  rules  the  waves,"  Henry  Kane  rang  the  bell 
at  the  front  door.  It  was  opened  by  a  servant  in  white  kids,  who 
was  in  the  act  of  closing  it  again,  but  there  was  something  so  ab- 
jec'ly  miserable  in  the  appearance  of  the  boy,  that  he  hesitated, 
and  at  last  suffered  him  to  enter.  A  purple  hue  had  overspread  his 
emaciated  features,  bis  teeth  chattered  as  if  they  were  loose  in  their 
sockets,  and  his  body  shook  as  though  it  was  in  the  grasp  of  disso 
lution,  lie  essayed  to  speak,  but  his  tongue  clove  to  the  roof  of 
his  mouth  :  yet  his  countenance  expressed  the  most  intense  anxiety 
and  alarm.  It  was  altogether  a  picture  of  human  woe  that  melted 
the  heart  of  the  menial.  The  child  pointed  toward  the  receding 
party. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  137 

u  Poor  little  fellow,  he  is  hungry,"  said  the  servant,  as  lie  ran  for 
some  cake  that  was  lying  upon  the  silver  waiter. 

Henry  shook  his  head  impatiently. 

"What  can  the  boy  want?  Drink  perhaps.  Some  wine,  at  all 
events,  will  not  harm  him,  this  bitter  night." 

He  could  scarcely  hold  the  glass  in  his  trembling  hand  while  he 
swallowed  a  few  drops.  The  wine  and  the  warmth  of  the  room 
enabled  him  to  speak. 

"  Mr.  Grease — be — beans.  Let  me  see  Mr.  Greasebeans,"  he 
gasped. 

'*  To-night?  it  is  impossible." 

"  No,  no,  no  ;  don't  say  that.     1  must  see  him  ;  indeed  I  must." 

"  It  is  impossible.    Can't  you  see  there  is  a  party  here  to-night  ?" 

Henry  came  up  to  the  man  and  whispered  in  a  low  solemn  voice, 
"  If  you  don't  let  me  see  him  they  will  turn  my  mother  and  my  lit 
tle  sister  and  brother  into  the  street  this  cold,  cold  night." 

The  servant  hesitated. 

"  You  won't  let  them  freeze  to  death  in  the  street,  will  you  ?" 

"  By  my  soul,  no  ;  not  if  I  can  help  it." 

Then  you  must  call  him  quick,  for  I  promised  to  be  back  in  an 
hour,  but  I  lost  my  way  coming  here,  and  I  am  sure  it  is  more  than 
an  hour  ;  much  more  than  an  hour,  so  you  will  call  him  quicklv 
won't  you  ?" 

The  waiter  ascended  the  staircase,  and  the  wan  child  remained 
in  the  hall,  with  his  straw  hat  in  his  hand,  from  which  he  had 
shaken  off  the  snow  and  sleet  that  had  fallen  upon  it.  Small  par 
ticles  of  ice  still  glistened  upon  his  rough  garments,  but  they  were 
fast  thawing,  like  the  congealed  blood  in  his  veins,  under  the  influ 
ence  of  the  warm  atmosphere.  The  strains  of  "  Brittania  rules  the 
waves,"  still  rolled  through  the  mansion,  but  his  heart  sickened  at 
the  sound,  for  he  had  heard  that  Brittania  ruled  the  waves  by  means 
of  the  agony  and  despair  which  the  press-gang  entailed  upon  every 
family  within  whose  circle  a  victim  was  seized. 

Mr.  Greasebeans  descended  with  strong  marks  of  impatience 
upon  his  countenance,  but  these  words  faintly  express  the  mingled 
emotions  of  surprise  and  rage  that  were  visible  there  when  he  Dis 
covered  in  the  person  of  the  intruder,  one  of  his  operatives.  His 
brow  contracted  into  a  frown  as  he  turned  his  glance  from  Henry 
to  the  waiter. 

"  James,  is  this  guest  here  upon  your  invitation,  or  that  of  the 
cook  ?" 

The  serving-man  hung  his  head. 

"  Neither  of  them  invited  me  here,  Mr.  Greasebeans,"  said  Hen 
ry,  earnestly. 

"  Then  why  are  you  here  ?"  he  replied  savagely. 
4  Because,  sir,  they  were  going  to  turn  my  mother  into  the  street 
to-night— yes  sir,  to-night;    and  don't  you  hear  how  the  storm 
rages  ?  listen  !" 

"And  why  were  they  going  to  do  that?" 

"  She  could  not  pay  the  rent." 

"You  expect,  then,  to  live  without  paying  rent,  perhaps?"  said 
the  benevolent  man,  with  a  hard  expression  upon  his  features. 

7* 


118  -      ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

"  Oh  no,  sir,  we  do  not ;  if  you  won't  let  us  stay  until  we  can 
earn  it,  only  say  we  may  sleep  there  to-night.  Just  this  one 
night  r 

''  Not  one  minute  ;  do  you  hear.  Not  one  minute.  I  intend  to 
make  an  example  of  you  for  the  benefit  of  all  dilatory  and  refrac 
tory  tenants.  James,  shut  that  door  ;  I  would  not  have  my  guests 
shocked  hy  a  sight  of  this  vagabond." 

"  What"  shall  I  do  ?  what  shall  I  do  ?"  exclaimed  the  wretched 
child,  in  tones  that  pierced  the  heart  of  the  waiter. 

"  Do?  march  out  of  my  house,  /can  tell  you  what  to  do  soon 
enough." 

"  But,  Mr.  Greasebeans,"  he  sobbed,  falling  on  his  knees  ;  "  dear 
Mr.  Greasebeans,  if  you  turn  us  into  the  street  to-night,  we  shall 
freeze  to  death  before  morning.  My  dear,  dear,  kind,  good  mother 
will  freeze  to  death.  Dolly,  gentle  little  Dolly  will  freeze  to  death. 
Frank,  too,  who  is  a  little  baby,  and  can't  tell  how  cold  he  is,  will 
freeze  to  death  too  ;  and  I  shall  freeze  to  death  too ;  but  I  don't 
care  for  myself — " 

'  Out  with  you." 

'  Think  how  they  will  suffer  ;  what  a  hard  death  it  will  be — " 

'Won't  you  go  out?" 

'  Do,  Mr.  Greasebeans,  pray  do,  for  mer — " 

'  Then  I'll  throw  you  out." 

Opening  the  door,  the  benevolent  and  charitable  man  seized  the 
child  by  the  neck  and  hurled  him  down  the  steps.  He  struggled  to 
retain  his  feet,  but  the  frozen  rain  had  made  the  marble  slippery, 
and  falling,  his  head  came  violently  in  contact  with  the  curb-stone. 
A  slight  groan  mingled  with  the  strain  of  "  Brittania  rules  the 
wnves,"  as  the  philanthropic  Solomon  Greasebeans  closed  the 
door. 

"  Now,  sir,  if  you  admit  another  rag-a-muffin,  you'll  lose  your 
place." 

"  You  may  attend  the  door  yourself,  hereafter,"  replied  the  man, 
taking  off  his  gloves  and  dashing  them  upon  the  floor. 

"  How  is  that,  sirrah  ?" 

"  I  mean,  sir,  that  I  will  not  wear  the  livery  of  a  brute." 

"  Oh  !  think  better  of  it,  James ;  at  all  events,  for  to-night," 
said  Mr.  Greasebeans,  graciously,  for  he  could  not  well  dispense 
with  his  services  until  the  party  broke  up. 

"  Not  one  solitary  moment." 

Mr.  Greasebeans  considered  it  undignified  to  bandy  words  with 
a  servant,  and  he  therefore  ordered  another  waiter  to  take  his  posi 
tion  by  the  door,  and  he  then  entered  the  supper-room  with  as 
much  happiness  impressed  upon  his  benevolent  features,  as  if  he 
had  emancipated  the  whole  negro  race,  or  what  he  would  regard 
quite  as  satisfactory,  involved  the  United  States  of  America  in  the 
horrors  of  civil  war.  Upon  his  calm  features  was  plainly  written, 
"  I  am  the  liberal  president  of  the  Dexeter  Hall  Society  for  ameli 
orating  the  condition  of  the  blacks  in  Africa,  and  liberating  the 
manacled  slave  in  the  United  States." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  139 


CHAPTER  XV, 

u  Broad  are  these  streams — my  steecl  obeys, 

Plunges,  and  bears  me  through  the  tide."— BRYANT. 

LORD  ROSSMORE  conducted  Christie  Kane  from  the  jail  to  his 
carriage.  As  he  tottered  into  it,  with  feeble  steps,  he  saw  Katha 
rine  Montague  seated  upon  the  back  of  Surrey.  A  faint  smile  ex 
pressed  the°pleasure  which  the  possession  of  the  dapple-gray  by  the 
maiden  gave  him.  She  gazed  upon  his  emaciated  form  and  pale, 
attenuated  face  with  painful  interest.  Her  looks  assured  him  there 
was  one  human  being  whose  heart  was  touched  by  his  sufferings. 

The  earl  motioned  to  the  coachman,  and  they  proceeded  rapidly 
towards  the  castle  of  Montague.  Lord  Rossmore  suffered  his  glance 
to  rest  occasionally  upon  the  countenance  of  the  young  man. 

k'  It  is  an  infamous  law  which  thus  surrenders  the  body  of  the 
debtor  to  the  creditor,"  he  said,  in  a  low,  stern  tone. 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  generous  sympathy,  my  lord,"  said  Chris 
tie  Kane. 

The  earl  did  not  reply. 

When  they  arrived  at  the  point  where  the  road  turned  in  the  di 
rection  of  the  castle,  Katharine  Montague  rode  past  them,  bowing 
to  her  father  with  a  smiling  face,  and  suffering  her  eyes  to  rest 
upon  his  companion  longer  than  a  momentary  glance.  Instead  of 
following  her  to  the  castle,  the  horses  proceeded  in  the  direction 
of  Kane's  former  residence. 

"  Young  man,  nature  destined  you  for  a  more  elevated  position 
in  life  than  you  have  hitherto  occupied,"  said  the  earl. 

"  I  am  satisfied  with  it,"  replied  Christie. 

Lord  Rossmore  proceeded  without  seeming  to  heed  his  remarks. 

"  Your  rent  has  been  paid ;  the  lease  is  renewed,  and  for  the 
present  you  can  resume  your  farming  operations.  The  future  will 
unfold  what  is  in  reservation  for  you." 

Christie  Kane  was  silent,  but  his  looks  expressed  the  depth  of 
his  gratitude. 

The  earl  spoke  no  more  during  the  ride. 

As  the  carriage  drew  up  at  the  door  of  his  house,  Mrs.  Kane 
walked  out  upon  the  portico.  She  expressed  neither  joy  at  his  re 
turn,  nor  sorrow  at  his  emaciated  appearance. 

"  Good  morning,"  said  Lord  Rossmore,  as  the  carriage  departed, 

"  Good-bye,  my  lord  ;  your  kindness  shall  never  be  forgotten." 

The  sound  of  the  wheels  swallowed  up  the  last  words. 

"  I  hope  you  have  had  a  comfortable  time  of  it,"  said  Mrs.  Kane, 
sarcastically. 

"  This  is  my  welcome  home,  and  the  reception  a  mother  gives 
her  son  !  Very  well,  it's  in  keeping  with  the  ways  of  the  world." 


140  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"In  the  blues  still?" 

"  Tell  Susan  to  come  here,  if  you  please.     Ah  !  here  she  is." 
"  Mony's  the  day  sin'  I  was  so  shocked,"  exclaimed  the  girl,  with 
unaffected  astonishment. 

^  "  Never  mind  it,  my  good  lass  ;  it  is  all  over  now,  1  hope.    As 
sist  me  to  my  room,  and  then  get  me  some  light  food." 

"  That  I  will— that  I  will.  It  is  in  the  bonny  hielands  they  would 
be  ashamed  to  treat  a  human  being  so  cruelly,1'  replied  Susan,  as 
she  assisted  him  to  his  room. 

Several  days  elapsed  before  he  had  recovered  sufficient  strength 
to  leave  the  house,  and  when  at  length  he  did  breathe  the  pure  air 
of  heaven,  beneath  the  clear  sky  of  autumn,  it  was  with  a  profound 
sense  of  enjoyment.     As  soon  as  he  could  leave  his  room,  Ellen 
Knowles  called  to  see  him.     Her  mild  countenance  expressed  the 
utmost  commiseration,  as  she  took  his  hand,  upon  which  a  tear  fell. 
Do  not  weep,  dear  Ellen  ;  1  have  suffered,  but  all  is  over  now." 
'How  can  I  help  it  when  I  reflect  how  unjustly  you  have  been 
treated.     How  often  I  implored  my  father  to  intercede  in  your  be 
half;  but,  but — " 

"I  am  no  favorite  of  his." 

"I  would  have  done  something  myself  if  I  had  possessed  the 
ability,"  she  added,  with  a  heart-broken  sob. 

"  Dearest  Ellen,"  he  said,  tenderly,  "  do  not  distress  yourself. 
I  know  very  well  you  were  powerless  ;  but  the  will  to  aid  me  shall 
ever  be  taken  as  the  deed,  so  think  no  more  about  it.  You  have 
endeared  yourself  to  me  by  the  anxiety  you  have  suffered  on  my 
account." 

"  Yes,  you  can  never  repay  her  for  the  solicitude  she  has  felt 
for  you,"  said  Mrs.  Kane,  ironically. 

"  I  know  it,  mother  ;  arid  Ellen  shall  discover  how  sincere  is  my 
thankfulness." 

"  Maister  Christie,  Maister  Christie,  it's  mesel  is  delighted  to  say 
yez  wonst  more.  I  should  hiv  come  amadintly,  but  I  hiv  been  to 
town— to  Lunnon,"  he  added,  setting  his  smart  hat  upon  his  left 
ear. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Phelim.     And  so,  you  are  in  service?" 
"Yez.     Lady  Kathreen  Montague  honored  me  wid  her  fayvur 
whilst  yez  were  eximplyfyin  the  booties  of  imprisonment  for  debt, 
bekaze  the  crops  would  fale." 

"  And  how  are  you  pleased  with  the  service  ?" 
"  No  one  can  say  the  lovely  smile  and  hear  the  sweet  voice  of 
her  ladyship,  widdout  a  loven  her," 

"  You  think  not,  Mr.  Savor,"  said  Ellen  Knowles,  tartly. 
"Yez  may  well  say  that.     But  me  remark  is  applicable  to  me 
own  sex,  though,  for  the  invious  of  yez  own,  cannot  admire  booty 
in  ony  but  themsels." 

"  You  will  remain  at  the  castle,  of  course,"  said  Kane. 
"  Of  koorse  I  will  not !     Desert  yez,  who  have  always  been  so 
kind  to  me  ?     Never  !     It  shall  not  be  said  of  Phelim  Savor,  poor 
though  he  ba,that  he  is  guilty  of  the  fashonble  vice  of  carryin'  two 
faces  under  one  hat." 

Christie  Kane  pressed  his  hand. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  HI 

" 1  shall  not  consent  to  have  you  sacrifice  your  Hue  prospects 
for  me.  I  can  manage  the  farm  with  other  assistance  ;  you  must 
return  to  the  castle." 

"  JNiver  !" 

"Yes,  I  insist  upon  it." 

"  It  can't  be  done,  Maister  Christie.  Yez  say,  whin  Lady 
Kathreen  towld  ma  this  mornin  to  ride  Surrey  here,  and  return  him 
to  you" — 

"  Did  she  say  that1?"  asked  Christie,  quickly. 

"  Yez  ;  that  she  did.  I  tell  yaz,  Maister  Christie,"  said  Mr. 
Savor,  in  a  confidential  tone,  "that  lady  niver  has  two  faces  under 
one  hat,  and  it  izzent  bekase  she  haint  got  booty  enough,  or  aint 
married  or  Jcoorted,  ayther." 

"  And  she  told  you  to  deliver  Surrey  to  me?" 

"  Yez  ;  and  there  he  is ;  and  looking,  too,  like  there  wazzent  a 
horse  his  aquel  in  all  the  united  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  Ireland, 
Scotland,  Wales,  and  the  Koonty  Clare." 

"  Surrey  has  been  treated  well,  then]" 

"  Thrated  well  1  Ba  the  powers  yez  may  well  say  that  same. 
He  was  after  being  roobed  down  three  times  a  day,  as  if  he  was 
Lord  Snizzle's  boots,  and  no  one  but  her  ladyship  iver  ixercised 
him." 

"  Well,  now,  Phelim,  you  will  ride  Surrey  to  the  castle,  and 
present  my  thanks  to  Lady  Katharine  Montague,  and  say  to  her 
that  I  cannot  accept  the  present  she  has  so  delicately  offered  me." 

"Spoken  like  a  man  of  honor,  as  you  are,"  said  Ellen  Knowles, 
enthusiastically. 

"  Like  a  simpleton,  as  he  is,"  responded  Mrs.  Kane,  sarcasti 
cally. 

"  Yez  know  best  what  is  right,"  said  Phelim.  "  I  will  do  your 
bidding,  and  then  ax  her  bootiful  and  gracious  ladyship  to  let  me 
raysume  me  crownless  hat,  and  quit  her  service  for  yez  oon." 

"  No,  no,  Phelim.  I  will  not  consent.  You  cannot  shake  my 
resolution  upon  this  point.  The  advantages  are  altogether  too 
much  in  your  favor  to  justify  me  in  withdrawing  you  from  her  ser 
vice.  You  will  therefore  say  to  her  ladyship,  when  you  make 
known  my  refusal  to  accept  Surrey,  that  I  shall  consider  myself 
under  additional  obligations  to  her  if  she  will  retain  you  in  her 
service." 

"  If  yez  command  me  to  do  that  same,  I  will,"  said  Phelim, 
sadly. 

'*  I  do." 

Without  saying  more,  Phelim  withdrew  from  the  house,  and 
mounting  Surrey,  rode  slowly  in  the  direction  of  the  castle. 

Christie  Kane  accompanied  his  cousin  home.  Her  manner  was 
tender  and  subdued.  The  winning  softness  of  Ellen  Knowles  had 
the  effect  of  soothing  his  spirits. 

When  he  withdrew,  her  eyes  flashed,  and  her  nostrils  dilated. 

*'  He  is  mine,  he  is  mine  !  The  victory  for  which  I  have  strug 
gled,  oh,  so  long  !  that  has  caused  me  to  pass  so  many  sleepless 
nights,  and  days  of  agony,  is  now  within  my  grasp,  and  1  will  clutch 
i:t,  clutch  jtf  with  the  remorseless  determination  of  a  fiend." 


U2  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

Before  she  could  compose  her  features,  Lord  Melville  was 
announced.  Her  temper  was  still  up,  and  she  haughtily  waved 
him  to  a  seat. 

His  lordship  did  not  seem  to  be  in  the  mood  to  submit  to  her 
humor,  for  he  threw  himself  at  full  length  upon  the  sofa,  and  draw 
ing  forward  a  chair  to  rest  his  opera  boot  upon,  smoothed  his  whis 
kers  with  the  coolest  air  imaginable. 

She  endeavored  to  annihilate  him  with  several  fierce  glances, 
but  he  seemed  to  be  proof  against  their  assault,  as  he  continued  to 
survey  her  person  with  a  steadfast,  supercilious  gaze. 
"Your  lordship  is  rude." 
"  Your  ladyship  is  shrewish." 

"  I  could  expect  no  better  manners  from  one  who  has  not  tact 
enough  to  control  the  liberty  of  a  debtor  once  in  his  power." 

"  Manners  depend  upon  the  ability  of  a  man  to  play  the  tyrant 
and  villain,  eh  !  Miss  Ellen  Knovvles,  your  code  of  morals  ought 
to  be  generally  established  in  fashionable  society ;  for  since  the 
days  of  Cain,  the  first  robber,  it  has  guided  the  conduct  of  that 
respectable  portion  of  the  human  family  who  live  by  rascality.  Did 
it  ever  occur  to  ywi  what  an  admirable  female  Captain  Kidd  you 
would  make,  Miss  E^lien  Knovvles  ?" 
"  Insolence  !" 

"  Truth,  madam — naked,  unvarnished  truth.     By  the  way,  how 
far  have  your  designs  upon  Christie  Kane  been  forwarded  by  his 
imprisonment,  and  to  what  extent  will  they  be  embarrassed  by  his 
liberation,  through  the  influence  of  Katharine  Montague1?" 
"Did  she  liberate  him'?"  gasped  Ellen. 

"  Sets  the  wind  so  strongly  in  that  quarter  ?  I  shall  cause  Mr. 
Kane  to  be  informed  of  the  interest  that  fair  ladv  takes  in  his 
welfare." 

"  No  !  no  !  you  will  not.     Say  you  will  not  do  that?" 
"  I  shall,  though.     You  may  remember  having  made  frequent 
and  taunting  allusions  to  my  great  aunt." 

"  It  made  you  feel  sore,  did  if?"  replied  Ellen,  triumphantly. 
"  Not  half  so  sore  as  I  .will  make  you  feel,  my  merry  damsel, 
before  I  let  you  up,"  said  Melville,  with  a  sneer. 

"  Do  your  worst,  fool  and  coxcomb,  as  you  are.  Nothing  can 
prevent  Christie  Kane  from  making  a  declaration  of  his  love,  and 
me  from  accepting  him." 

"  Indeed  !"  he  said — showing  his  teeth  like  an  enraged  wolf. 
"  No,  sir." 

"  Not  if  I  tell  him  you  instigated  me  to  throw  him  into  prison  ?" 
She  turned  pale,  and  her  form  trembled. 

"  Ah  ha  !  you  are  in  my.  power,  are  you  ?     Simpleton  !  did  you 
suppose  you  could  safely  trifle  with  me — me.  Lord  Melville,  who. 
never  forgave  an  insult  ?" 

"  Nay,  my  lord,"  she  replied  in  supplicating  tones  ;  "you  will 
not,  let  me  implore  you,  inform  Christie  Kane  that  I  urged  you  to 
cast  him  into  prison.  If  you  only  knew  how  much  I  have  at  stake, 
I  am  sure  you  would  not." 

In  the  intensity  of  their  passion,  neither  heard  footsteps  approach 
ing  the  parlor;  they  were  arrested  at  the  conclusion  of  her  appeal, 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  143 

and  then  receded  to  the  outer  door,  which  closed  upon  them.  It 
was  Christie  Kane,  upon  whose  ears  fell  the  unwelcome  intelligence 
of  her  heartless  conduct. 

"  You  cannot  shake  my  resolution, "coolly  replied  Melville. 

She  raised  her  form  to  its  full  height,  and  casting  upon  him  a 
look  of  intense  hate,  she  said — 

"  You  shall  not  tell  him." 

"Shall  not?" 

"  No  ;  if  I  am  in  your  power,  you  are  not  less  so  in  mine." 

"  Do  your  worst." 

"  Have  a  care,  my  lord.  My  worst  will  greatly  exceed  anything 
you  can  possibly  imagine." 

"I  doubt  it." 

"  You  do  r 

"I  do." 

"  And  you  persist  in  your  determination  to  injure  me  in  the  good 
opinion  of  my  cousin  T' 

"  As  surely  as  I  live  long  enough,"  he  replied  defiantly. 

"  Then  I  am  your  stern  and  irreconcilable  foe  ;  a  foe  whom  you 
cannot  thwart  or  elude  ;  who  will  follow  in  your  footsteps  with  the 
untiring  ferocity  of  a  tigress,  until  you  are  bereft  of  rank,  fortune, 
every  thing  which  you  now  enjoy  but  to  disgrace.  Begone,  sir." 

"  Au  revoir,"  he  said,  kissing  his  hand  to  the  maiden,  as  he 
walked  to  the  door  followed  by  her  flashing  eyes. 

"  Beware,"  she  exclaimed,  shaking  her  trembling  finger  at  him. 

"  Vive  la  Bagatelle." 

Christie  Kane  had  never  felt  a  more  tender  sentiment  for  his 
cousin  than  gratitude.  In  their  childhood  she  had  often  annoyed 
him  by  unkind  allusions  to  the  difference  in  their  social  conditions. 
It  was  only  within  the  last  twelve  months  that  her  bearing  had 
changed  ;  so  suddenly,  indeed,  as  to  create  distrust  at  first ;  but 
that  had  gradually  yielded  to  time  and  the  tenderness  of  her  man 
ners.  It  is  true  he  had  sometimes  doubted  her  sincerity,  and  now 
that  he  had  accidentally  become  possessed  of  a  knowledge  of  her 
agency  in  his  imprisonment,  she  was  thoroughly  unmasked. 

In  spite  of  the  haughty  mien  of  Katharine  Montague,  he  could 
not  think  of  her  unmoved.  At  times,  her  eyes  had  dwelt  upon  him 
with  an  expression  that  caused  his  heart  to  thrill  with  delight. 
But  oftener,  his  feelings  had  indignantly  resented  her  contemptuous 
bearing.  He  could  not  divest  himself  of  the  belief,  presumptuous 
as  he  often  thought  it,  that  despite  the  difference  in  their  positions, 
she  regarded  him  with  greater  interest  than  she  would  disclose. 
A  union  between  them  he  knew  was  impossible,  and  he  resolved  to 
conceal  within  his  own  heart  the  emotions  with  which  she  had  in 
spired  him. 

Katharine  Montague,  mounted  upon  Surrey,  for  she  rode  no 
other  steed  now,  and  followed  by  Phelim  Savor,  availed  herself  of 
the  fair  days  in  October  to  visit  the  poor  and  prepare  them  for  the 
severe  weather  of  winter.  The  strongest  contrast  in  the  character 
of  the  maiden  was  the  tenderness  of  her  manner  to  the  humble,  and 
the  haughty  bearing  she  presented  to  the  worldly  and  assuming. 
It  gave  her  more  pleasure  to  relieve  the  suffering  than  to  receive 


!44  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

the  adulation  of  the  high-born.  How  different  from  the  fine  lady, 
whose  mind  cannot  elevate  itself  above  dress  and  the  concomitants 
which  make  up  the  "  fishionable"  woman  ! 

She  was  returning  from  one  of  these  excursions,  followed  by 
Pbelim  Savor.  She  had  been  detained  longer  than  she  was  aware 
by  the  bed-side  of  sickness,  and  she  gave  Surrey  the  rein.  They 
swept  rapidly  across  the  open  country  that  spread  out  some  eitrht 
miles  from  the  castle  of  Montague.  She  had  observed  a  dark 
cloud  passing  over  the  head  waters  of  a  rapid  stream,  as  they 
crossed  it  a  few  hours  before.  It  was  already  swollen  by  heavy 
rams,  and  she  thought  at  the  time,  the  bridge  was  too  frail  to  resist 
the  mountain  torrent.  As  they  approached  the  stream  she  heard 
the  roaring  of  the  waters  as  they  tumbled  down  the  hill-side  and 
rushed  through  the  chasm  across  which  the  bridge  was  thrown. 
The  road  was  one  not  much  frequented,  and  due  precautions  had 
not  been  taken  to  reconstruct  the  bridge  which  was  now  weakened 
by  age.  A  portion  of  the  framework  erected  in  the  middle  of  the 
stream  had  been  carried  away  by  a  previous  flood,  and  now  pre 
sented  a  feeble  barrier  to  the  fury  of  the  waters. 

As  they  reached  the  summit  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  river,  she 
arrested  the  speed  of  her  horse,  and  gazed  with  rapt  delight,  not  un- 
mingled  with  awe,  upon  the  scene.  The  flood,  fronT  the  point 
where  it  curved  over  the  distant  elevation,  was  one  continuous  sheet 
of  foam.  Fretted  and  angry,  it  tumbled  onward,  now  rushing 
against  this  bank  and  then  against  that,  as  if  it  would  force  a  pas 
sage  through  the  rocky  barrier.  Checked  in  its  career,  it  turned 
with  renewed  vigor  upon  the  next  obstruction,  against  which  it  fu 
riously  hurled  itself.  Logs  and  small  trees  were  borne  down  the 
stream,  and  passing  under  the  bridge  were  swept  away. 

"  Look,  look  !"  exclaimed  Phelim  eagerly.  "  Don't  yez  say 
yon  big  tree  ?  If  that  same  strikes  the  pier,  it's  little  of  the  bridge 
will  be  left  standing  at  all,  at  all." 

"  True  ;  we  must  cross  the  stream  before  that  tree  reaches  the 
bridge.  Now  to  your  utmost  speed,  Surrey." 

The  generous  horse  sprang  away  ;  but  if  his  progress  was  rapid, 
that  of  the  descending  tree  was  still  more  so.  Surrey  was  within 
a  few  yards  of  the  bridge  when,  by  a  strong  effort  of  his  fair  rider, 
he  was  thrown  back  upon  his  haunches.  The  promptness  with 
which  she  acted  saved  the  lives  of  both.  The  next  moment  the 
descending  tree  struck  the  framework  in  the  centre  of  the  stream. 
A  loud  crash  was  heard,  the  bridge  trembled  violently,  and  then 
sunk  into  the  river. 

"  That  was  a  narrow  escape,  Phelim." 

"  Yez  may  well  say  that,  yer  ladyship." 

"  What  is  to  be  done  ?  I  think  that  chasm  is  too  wide  even  for 
Surrey  to  take." 

'•  Begorra — barring  your  presence.  .Nay  ther  Surrey,  nor  me  own 
horse  could  lape  this  stream  widdout  an  especial  dispensashin  from 
Holy  St.  Patrick,  long  life  tul  his  blissed  mimory." 

"  Is  there  no  other  way  of  crossing  the  stream  ?" 

"  There  is  a  ford  the  matter  of  a  koople  of  miles  up  the  river, 
that  can  ba  forded  almost  any  wither." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  ]45 

"  In  the  autumn  flood  ?" 

"  Yis,  I  have  waded  across  it  even  thin." 

"  Lead  the  way  thilher." 

"  If  I  might  assume  the  laiberty  of  suggisting  what  koorse  should 
be  pursued,  it  would  ba  to  return  to  the  wayside  inn  two  miles 
back,  or  tul  proceed  down  the  stream  to  the  castle  of  Monlow  ?" 

"  The  ford  has  been  crossed  in  high  water  ?" 

"  Yis,  ma-am." 

"Then  we  will  cross  it  now.  Once  upon  the  other  side,  it  will 
be  a.  short  ride  home.  I  must  not  cause  the  alarm  my  absence 
at  the  castle  would  produce  unless  it  is  absolutely  necessary." 

The  road  which  it  was  necessary  for  them  now  to  pursue  was 
little  better  than  a  path,  and  their  progress  was  necessarily  less 
rapid  than  before.  To  add  to  the  difficulties  that  seemed  to  gather 
in  her  way,  the  clouds  began  to  collect  again,  as  if  threatening  a 
storm.  Daylight,  too,  would  soon  disappear.  The  prospect  was 
anything  bat  agreeable,  still  she  continued  her  way  as  fast  as  the 
nature  of  the  ground  would  permit. 

"It's  acooming;  what  will  your  ladyship  do?"  said  Phelirn, 
anxiously.  "  Hadn't  we  better  go  back  to  the  inn  "?" 

"  It  is  too  late  now.     How  far  is  it  to  the  ford  ?"' 

*'  Betterer  an  a  mile." 

^So  far  ?" 

The  path  was  now  open,  and  she  again  proceeded  rapidly. 

The  storm  now  burst  upon  them/  The  wind  hurled  the  rain 
into  her  fuce,  and  her  clothes  were  soon  saturated.  For  a  few 
minutes  she  paused,  unsheltered  from  the  storm,  until  the  first 
blast  had  spent  its  fury,  and  then  she  again  proceeded. 

"  Ba  the  merciful  powers  ba  thanked,  here  is  the  ford." 

"  Can  we  cross  here,  Phelim  ?" 

"  It  looks  scary  like,  but  I  summit  believe  it  can  be  done.  I'll 
try  onyhow." 

"  Do  you  think  you  incur  no  risk  ?" 

"  I  think  not.  The  main  channel  is  narrow,  yez  say,  although 
the  stream  is  wide,  an'  if  the  horses  do  happen  to  swim,  it  will  ba 
only  for  the  matter  of  a  few  yards,  which  will  be  nothing,  espe 
cially  to  Surrey,  that  is  a  bootiful  swimmer.  Yez  will  plaise  take 
notice  which  koorse  I  go.  There's  no  danger  until  yergit  fornenst 
the  rock  beyant.  Wonst  by  that  same,  and  yez  are  safe." 

1  Lead  the  way  then,  if  you  think  there  is  no  danger.  Twilight 
is  already  setting  in,  and  this  rain  is  anything  but  comfortable."0 

Phelim  rode  his  horse  into  the  stream.  Near  the  middle  he  was 
carried  off  his  feet,  but  he  was  not  borne  down  far  when  his  feet 
again  touched  the  bed  of  the  river. 

Encouraged  by  the  success  of  Phelim  Savor,  Katharine  gave 
Surrey  the  reins.  As  she  reached  the  channel  a  dark  mass 
loomed  through  the  deepening  gloom.  The  sagacity  of  the  horse 
discovered  the  danger,  and  nobly  did  he  try  to  avoid  it.  He  saw 
he  could  not  pass  in  front  of  it,  and  turning  his  head  up  the  stream 
he  endeavored  to  regain  the  shore  which  he  had  left.  The  bridle 
became  entangled  in  a  branch  of  the  tree.  The  horse  shook  his 
head  but  could  not  extricate  himself.  They  were  borne  down  the 


146  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

stream.  Katharine  Montague  did  not  shriek  ;  she  did  not  even 
utter  a  cry,  but  she  leaned  forward  to  free  the  rein.  Her  efforts, 
also,  were  unsuccessful.  A  thought  flashed  upon  her  mind  in  that 
moment  of  extreme  peril.  She  detached  the  bridle  and  threw  the 
reins  over  his  head.  With  a  glad  neigh  the  animal  rewarded  the 
feat.  They  were  now  in  the  strongest  part  of  the  current,  and 
were  carried  rapidly  down  the  stream.  The  horse,  instead  of 
turning  his  head  towards  the  bank,  endeavored  to  stem  the  torrent. 
His  efforts  were  unavailing,  and  Katharine  shuddered  as  she  heard 
the  roar  of  the  falls  at  the  head  of  the  rapids.  She  pressed  her 
hands  upon  her  eyes  to  shut  out  the  fearful  spectacle,  when  a  firm 
grasp  was  laid  upon  her  arm. 

"Trust  to  me,"  said  a  calm,  manly  voice. 

She  slid  from  the  back  of  the  horse  into  the  water  in  a  state  of 
insensibility. 

The  stranger  spoke  no  more,  but  struck  boldly  for  that  part  of 
the  shore  which  fringed  the  summit  of  the  falls.  "  In  this  he  acted 
wisely,  for  he  did  not  exhaust  his  strength  in  a  vain  struggle  against 
the  current.  Surrey  with  instinctive  sagacity  followed  the  lead  of 
the  stranger,  but  his  powers  were  too  much  exhausted  to  reach 
the  shore.  As  Christie  Kane  bore  the  unconscious  maiden  up  the 
bank,  the  gallarit  steed  was  swept  into  the  rapids,  from  which  es 
cape  was  impossible.  Christie  still  held  Katharine  Montague  in  his 
arms,  and  a  feeling  of  bliss  pervaded  his  frame,  as  they  were 
tightened  upon  her  soft  form  in  the  effort  to  retain  it  there. 

A  few  rods  from  the  shore  was  a  deserted  cabin,  whose  thatched 
roof  kept  out  the  storm,  and  into  this  hut  he  carried  the  maiden. 
He  had  taken  shelter  here  from  the  storm  an  hour  before, 
and  a  cheerful  fire  blazed  upon  the  hearth.  Gently  laying  her 
down  upon  a  bed  of  moss,  in  front  of  the  fire,  he  rested  her  cold, 
pale  cheek  upon  his  bosom,  while  he  rubbed  her  hands  and  arms 
for  the  purpose  of  aiding  her  restoration  from  insensibility.  The 
blood  returned  to  her  lips,  but  as  he  bent  over  her  he  did  not  pro 
fane  them  with  a  kiss.  She  sighed,  and  turning  towards  him, 
placed  one  arm  around  his  neck.  His  form  trembled  at  the  invol 
untary  caress.  She  opened  her  eyes,  but  at  first  she  could  not  rally 
her  ideas.  Her  look  was  expressionless.  Christie  did  not  move, 
but  he  could  not/withdraw  his  fascinated  gaze  from  her  face.  At 
length  consciousness  resumed  her  throne  ;  she  recollected  every 
thing  ;  the  perils  with  which  she  was  surrounded  ;  the  few,  but 
cheering  words  of  Christie  Kane,  whose  features  she  now  recog 
nized.  For  a  few  moments  she  did  not  attempt  to  withdraw  her 
self  from  his  arms,  and  a  thrill  of  pleasure  indescribable  ran  along 
his  nerves  as  her  full,  lustrous  eyes  turned  to  his  own  with  an  ex 
pression  which  revealed  the  depth  of  her  gratitude  and  affection. 
For  a  moment  only,  was  nature  allowed  to  exhibit  its  powers,  for 
she  raised  herself  from  his  bosom,  not  hastily,  like  the  timid  dove, 
but  proudly  and  collectedly,  like  the  stately  swan. 

"  Where  is  Surrey  V  she  asked. 

"  Alas  !  I  fear  the  noble  animal  is  dead." 

"  What!  was  he  carried  down  the  rapids  ?" 

"  Yes,  the  current  was  too  strong  for  him;  we  barely  escaped 
with  our  own  lives," 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  147 

The  maiden  shuddered. 

"  Poor  Surrey  !  where  is  Phelim  ?" 

"  Here  I  am,  and  may  St.  Pathrick  be  praised  for  yez  riscue, 
and  by  maister  Christie,  too,"  said  the  gratified  fellow,  as  he  pro 
ceeded  to  cut  several  dozen  pigeons'- wings  to  the  music  of  his  own 
whistle  and  the  rain  that  poured  upon  his  head. 

"  Come  into  the  hut,"  said  the  lady. 

"  A  saycond  adation  of  Noah's  deluge  could  not  wet  me  a  hay- 
porth  more  than  I  am  at  this  present  moment." 

"  You  can  come  and  dry  yourself,"  said  Christie  Kane. 

"  Not  ontwil  I  hiv  picked  up  some  more  turf.  Yon  fijre  wants 
replenishing." 

"  What  is  to  be  done  now,  Mr.  Kane  ?"  asked  Katharine  Mon 
tague. 

"  I  hardly  know  what  to  advise,  unless  you  remain  here  until 
Phelim  can  ride  to  the  castle,  and  return  with  a  carriage  and  dry 
apparel  for  you." 

"  How  far  is  it  to  the  castle  1" 

"  Three  miles." 

"  And  the  road  ?" 

"  Is  passable  for  a  carriage." 

"  Such  a  night  as  this  T' 

"  I  fear  not  until  the  moon  rises,  some  two  hours  later.  In  the 
meantime  I  am  apprehensive  you  will  take  cold." 

"  I  do  not  fear  that.  But  can  Phelim  find  his  way  to  the  castle 
until  the  moon  rises'?  to  me  it  seems  the  darkness  is  impenetrable." 

Christie  went  into  the  gloom  that  walled  up  the  light  of  the  fire. 
"  It  is  impenetrable  ;  he  could  not  go  a  dozen  rods  without  losing 
his  way." 

"  It  is  an  awful  night,"  she  replied,  a«  she  listened  to  the  roaring 
of  the  wind,  the  falling  torrents,  and  tfle  rushing  stream.  "  What 
will  father  and  mother  think  ?" 

"They  will  undoubtedly  be  alarmed  at  your  absence,  but  many 
hours  shall  not  elapse  before  they  are  apprised  of  your  safety." 

"  This  turf  will  make  an  illegant  fire,"  said  Phelim,  as  he  piled 
up  the  logs  of  wood  in  the  chimney. 

Christie  adjusted  a  seat  near  the  blazing  fire  for  the  maiden. 

"  By  what  accident  am  I  indebted  for  your  aid  at  such  a  perilous 
moment  r*  inquired  Lady  Katharine  ;  for  she  could  not  withdraw  her 
mind  from  the  danger  she  had  encountered. 

"  I  have  been  upon  the  heath  to-day,  in  pursuit  of  game,  as  you 
may  discover  by  glancing  at  the  corner  of  the  room.  Returning,  I 
saw  the  storm  approaching,  and  took  shelter  in  the  cabin,  which 
has  often  been  my  resting-place  for  the  night,  under  similar  cir 
cumstances." 

"  If  I  am  indebted  to  the  storm  for  wet  garments  and  the  loss 
of  Surrey,  poor  fellow,  I  am  also  under  obligations  to  it  for  your 
aid." 

"  As  several  hours  must  elapse  before  you  can  leave  this  place, 
will  you  honor  my  culinary  skill,  unless  terror  has  occasioned  the 
loss  of  appetite  ?" 


148  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"And  do  you  number  cooking  among  your  accomplishments  ?" 
she  inquired  laughingly. 

"  Of  course  ;  even  the  knights-errant  did  not  think  their  educa 
tion  complete  until  they  could  prepare  a  meal  ;  a  result,  indeed, 
which  could  not  well  be  avoided,  for  in  their  warfare  against  real 
and  imaginary  enemies  of  fair  ladies,  they  were  often  carried  beyond 
the  reach  of  that  aid  which  is  so  generously  afforded  by  females  who 
understand  making  up  substantial  fare  as  well  as  grateful  delicacies  " 
Well,  let  us  see  what  proficiency  my  knight-errant  has  made 
in  such  an  important  vocation,"  replied  Katharine  Montague  who 
began  to  enjoy  the  scene,  as  the  warmth  of  the  fire  diffused  itself 
throughout  the  cabin. 

"Thank  you.      Occupying  this  hut  so  often  during  this  season 

the  year,  I  am  not  altogether  destitute  of  some  of  the  necessa 
ries  of  life,  and  especially  to-night,  for  the  sky  looked  threatening 
when  i  left  home  this  morning.  Here  Phelim,  dress  this  pheasant  • 
or  is  your  ladyship  more  fond  of  grouse  ?" 

"  Oh,  grouse,  by  all  means." 

'  Dress  both,  but  the  grouse  first." 

"  Yez.     I  always  did  say,"  soliloquized  Phelim,  as  he  withdrew, 

that  me  mistress  is  much  more  tasteful  than  the  nobility  in  em- 
era!,  for  yez  say,  they  think  nothing  is  so  delightful  as  to  live' on 
the  peasantry,  and  especially  does  his  riverence,  Fayther  McQuod- 
hng,  whilst  her  blissed  ladyship  prayfars  grouse,  me  own  delight." 

Katharine  Montague  observed  the  motions  of  Christie  Kane,  as 
he  prepareed  the  supper.  The  bright  light  that  fell  upon  his  manly 
form,  and  the  heat  of  the  fire,  suffused  his  cheeks  with  a  ruddy 
hue.  Occasionally  his  eyes  met  her  own,  when  they  were  suddenly 
withdrawn  ;  but  the  glance  deepened  the  color  in  his  cheeks.  He 
took  a  tea-pot  and  tin  pail,  which  shone  like  silver,  from  a  shelf  in 
the  corner  of  the  hut,  and*  went  to  the  river,  where  they  were 
thoroughly  rinsed.  He  then  placed  the  pail  upon  the  coals  so  that 
the  water  could  not  be  smoked.  Some  potatoes  were  covered  in 
the  ashes,  and  from  the  portmanteau  that  he  always  carried  on  his 
shoulders,  upon  his  hunting  excursions,  he  took  bread,  salt,  cheese, 
and  butter.  These  he  placed  upon  a  table  with  two  legs,  which  he 
leaned  against  the  wall.  The  maiden  was  very  much  amused  at 
the  scene,  and  could  not  repress  her  laughter  as  she  witnessed  his 
operations. 

"  I  am  glad  you  are  in  such  fine  spirits,"  he  said,  with  a  smile 
of  open  pleasure. 

"I  was  never  more  delighted.  This  is  a  scene  to  be  long 
remembered." 

*'  I  hope  so."  he  replied  with  an  expressive  glance. 

The  lady  blushed,  and  was  silent. 

Phelim  now  brought  in  the  grouse  and  pheasant,  and  Christie, 
adjusting  the  former  upon  a  crooked  stick,  requested  Mr.  Savor  to 
hold  it  suspended  over  the  coals.  The  pheasant  was  arranged  in 
the  same  manner ;  arid  Phelim,  taking  that  also,  sat  in  front  of  the 
fire — his  face  red  and  cheerful  :  the  very  impersonation  of  com 
fort  and  good  numor. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  H9 

"  You  would  make  an  excellent  quarter-master,  Mr.  Kane,"  said 
the  maiden. 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  I  have  some  thoughts  of  joining  the  army, 
and  would  do  so,  if  I  could,  like  some  of  the  younger  sons  of  our 
nobility,  purchase  promotion,  when  they  have  not  been  fortunate 
enough  to  merit  it.  But  will  you  suffer  me  to  turn  ywir  seat  to 
our  humble  board  V 

"  Gladly  ;  for  I  must  confess  to  a  most  craving  appetite.  I 
ought,  perhaps,  to  blush  for  it,  because  it  mars  the  romance  of  my 
adventure." 

"  Which  1  will  pardon,  for  the  joy  which  your  cheerfulness  gives 
me." 

Exercise  and  exposure  gave  a  relish  to  the  food,  of  which  she 
partook  with  a  sharpened  appetite. 

After  Pheliin  had  eaten,  he  was  despatched  to  the  castle,  with 
directions  to  return  with  a  carriage,  and  he  was  enjoined  by 
Katharine  Montague  to  assure  her  mother  that  she  was  sale  and 
happy. 

1  he  last  word  gave  Christie  Kane  indescribable  pleasure,  and  in 
that  seductive  hour  he  forgot  the  distance  which  separated  him  from 
the  being  who  had  so  completely  fascinated  him.  He  was  vain 
enough  to  suppose  that  he  possessed  all  the  manly  qualities  which, 
stamped  upoi  the  image  of  God,  rendered  him  one  of  nature's 
favorites.  He  forgot,  for  the  hour,  that,  with  all  his  mental  and 
personal  gifts,  he  was  still  one  of  the  substratum  upon  whose 
shoulders  rested  the  feet  of  the  patented  noble. 

"  You  have  not  a  high  opinion  of  the  class  of  society  to  which  I 
belong?"  said  the  maiden,  interrogatively. 

"  The  feeling  with  which  your  father,  and,  may  I  add,  yourself 
have  inspired  me,  will  not  justify  me  in  saying  that." 

Katharine  shaded  her  face  with  a  lace  handkerchief.  She  did 
not  reply,  and  he" continued — 

"  There  is  a  portion  of  the  English  nobility  whose  conduct 
awakens  the  respect  of  the  most  ardent  republican." 

"  And  do  you  belong  to  that  small  section  of  our  population  ?" 

"  Can  you  doubt  it  \  Believe  me,  Lady  Katharine,  there  is  an 
imposing  minority  in  numbers,  if  not  in  influence,  who  would 
gladly  exchange  a  state  of  social  and  political  bondage,  quite  as 
degrading  as  that  of  the  African  slave,  for  a  state  of  freedom  and 
independence." 

He  spoke  earnestly,  and  she  did  not  fail  to  observe  that  his  fine 
eyes  lighted  with  enthusiasm. 

"  Of  what  do  you  complain  ?" 

"Can  you  ask  me?  Of  everything  to  which  human  nature  can 
be  subjected.  Oppression,  contempt,  contumely.  Our  services 
required,  our  health  ruined,  and  our  misfortunes  punished  as 
crimes.  One  law,  which  disgraces  the  statute-book,  is  enough  to 
justify  a  revolution." 

"And  that?" 

"  Is  the  law  authorizing  imprisonment  for  debt.  It  not  only 
inflicts  punishment  upon  the  unfortunate,  as  revoUino-  as  thnt  with 


150  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

which  you  seek  to  arrest  crime,  but  it  increases  the  number  of 
offences  upon  the  criminal  calendar." 

"  In  what  way  ?" 

"  By  teaching  the  vicious  and  depraved  that  it  is  no  worse  to  be 
wicked  than  to  be  unfortunate — for  both  are  punished  with  equal 
severity. "* 

The  maiden  was  impressed  with  the  remark,  but  said — 

"It  is  an  evil  which  the  noble  may  suffer  as  well  as  the 
peasant." 

The  words,  falling  from  her  lips,  grated  harshly  upon  his  ears. 
But  he  controlled  his  feelings. 

"  Pardon  me.  In  our  case" — and  he  dwelt  bitterly  upon  the 
word — "  it  is  involuntary  ;  and  we  are  made  to  suffer  for  results 
over  which  we  cannot  exercise  the  slightest  control.  With  the 
aristocracy  it  is  generally  courted  by  voluntary  indulgence  in 
extravagance  and  folly." 

She  was  still  silent. 

"And  what  makes  the  law  ridiculous  as  well  as  unjust,  is  the 
fact  that  the  government,  which  so  mercilessly  crushes  the  spirit 
of  the  debtor,  is  itself  hopelessly  and  irremediably  insolvent.  An 
insolvency  from  which  there  is  no  expectation  or  desire  to  escape." 

"  No  wish  to  pay  off  the  national  debt  V 

"  Not  the  slightest." 

"And  why  not1?"  she  asked  with  a  look  of  surprise. 

"  Because  the  national  debt  is  the  strongest  pillar  that  sustains 
the  fabric  of  British  despotism  ;  more  powerful  even  than  a  hered 
itary  nobility,  or  the  Church  of  England." 

"  I  cannot  conceive  how  that  is  possible." 

"  I  will  explain.  The  government  is  indebted  to  its  subjects. 
The  interest,  which  is  annually  paid  upon  this  indebtedness,  is  the 
income  of  the  subject.  Do  you  not  perceive  that  every  creditor 
of  the  government  would  rally  to  its  defence,  were  it  in  danger  of 
being  overthrown  ?  for  the  reason,  that  their  capital  would  be 
involved  in  the  general  crash,  were  the  debtor  ruined." 

"  Ah  !  I  understand.  There  is  much  force  in  your  reasoning/' 
replied  the  maiden,  as  she  rested  her  elbow  upon  the  mossy  bed  he 
had  prepared  for  her  before  the  fire,  and  placed  her  cheek  upon  her 
hand. 

The  storm  had  passed,  and  not  a  cloud  could  be  seen  along  the 
vast  expanse  of  the  sky.  The  moon  was  rising  above  the  adjacent 
hill,  and  casting  her  mild  beams  across  the  turbulent  river.  Chris 
tie  Kane  re-entered  the  cabin,  from  which  he  had  emerged  a  short 
time  before. 

"  I  can  hear  the  sound  of  wheels :  the  carriage  must  be 
approaching." 

"  That  is  welcome  intelligence." 

The  reply  was  natural,  yet  Christie  did  not  like  it.  He  seemed 
hard  to  please. 

"  Kate,  my  darling,  I  am  glad  to  see  you — and  looking  so  fresh 
and  blooming  too,  as  though  nothing  had  happened," — said  the 
Earl  of  Rossmore. 

"  But  there  has,  though." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  151 

"Anything  more  than  a  worse  ducking  than  the  one  you  gave 
Lord  Melville  ?" 

"Yes,  I  have  lost  Surrey." 

"How?" 

"  He  went  over  the  rapids." 

"  Never  mind,  you  shall  have  another." 

"There  is  no  other  Surrey." 

"  There  are  as  good  fish  in  the  sea  as  were  ever  taken  out  of  it." 

"  An  adage  that  may  possibly  apply  to  the  finny  tribe,  but  not  to 
horses." 

"  Have  it  as  you  will.  But  where  is  your  preserver?  Ah,  here 
he  is,"  and  the  earl  grasped  Christie  Kane  by  the  hand.  "  You 
have  saved  the  life  of  my  child,  and  you  have  made  me  your  friend," 
he  said,  frankly. 

"  My  lord,  you  saved  my  life.  I  could  do  no  less  than  save  that 
of  your  daughter,  if  I  wanted  a  motive  stronger  than  a  sense  of 
duty." 

"  But  to  Kate,  not  to  me,  are  you  indebted  for  a  release  from 
jail,"  said  the  earl. 

"  Hush  !  father,"  she  said,  placing  her  hand  upon  his  mouth. 

"  I  am  certain  the  obligation  I  am  under  will  never  be  consid 
ered  less,"  he  replied. 

"  To  her  all  the  credit  is  due." 

She  shook  her  head  at  him  imperiously. 

"  Then  I  shall  more  than  ever  thank  fortune  for  leading  mo  to 
this  spot  to-night." 

"  And  so  will  I.  But  come,  Kate.  Drive  the  carriage  this 
way,  Donald,"  said  the  earl,  from  without  the  door. 

Katharine  paused  before  following  her  father. 

"  You  will  come  with  us,  won't  you  ?"  she  said  to  Christie. 

The  invitation  was  strongly  seconded  by  her  eyes.  Christie 
hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  then  said, 

"  I  thank  you,  no.     I  shall  remain  here  to-night." 

"  Does  it  possess  so  many  attractions  ?"  she  inquired,  archly,  as 
she  cast  a  glance  around  the  rough  walls  of  the  hut. 

"  Never  so  many  before  ;  but  now  I  will  often  make  pilgrimages 
hither,  and  with  as  much  devotion  as  ever  Mohammedan  visited 
Mecca." 

"  Good-bye,  then,"  she  said,  hurriedly,  as  she  extended  her  hand. 

He  held  it  for  a  moment,  while  his  speaking  glance  sought  her 
own,  and  then  he  bent  his  head  and  pressed  his  lips  upon  itr  Was 
he  mistaken  ?  He  thought  the  soft,  white,  little  hand  trembled. 

He  assisted  her  into  the  carriage,  and  declining  the  invitation  of 
the  earl  to  return  with  them,  he  re-entered  the  hut  as  they  drove 
away.  His  heart  beat  tumultuously,  and  hope  awakened  new  aspi 
rations  in  his  proud  heart — Hope,  that  often  creates,  that  despair 
may  destroy. 


152  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"  What  constitutes  man's  chief  enjoyment  here  ? 
What  forms  his  greatest  antidote  to  sorrow  ? 
Is't  wealth  ?     Wealth  can  at  last  hut  ^rild  his  bier, 
Or  buy  the  pall  that  poverty  must  borrow."—  CLASON. 

A  LONG,  anxious  hour  passed,  and  still  Henry  did  not  return. 
The  wind  swept  through  the  streets,  and  made  the  old  building 
shake  as  with  the  tremulousness  of  age.  There  came  gusts  of  rain 
pattering  against  the  glass,  and  that  was  followed  by  the  rattling 
sound  of  sleet.  The  night  was  black  and  piercingly  cold.  Mrs. 
Kane  pressed  the  two  infants  in  her  arms,  and  Dolly  rested  her 
cheek,  wet  with  tears,  upon  her  mother's  knee.  The  two  men 
contemplated  her  misery  ;  the  officer  with  emotions  that  a  famili 
arity  with  suffering  could  not  altogether  deaden,  and  Hurdy  with  a 
savage  expression  of  triumph  upon  his  repulsive  countenance. 

"  Why  don't  he  come  back  1  he  will  die  in  the  street,  I  know  he 
will,"  said  Mary  Kane,  as  the  hail  beat  against  the  window. 

"  You'll  be  there  soon  yourself,  only  fifteen  minutes  of  the  hour 
now  remain,"  said  Hurdy. 

She  made  no  reply,  but  moved  backward  and  forward  in  her 
chair,  moaning  piteously. 

"  The  hour  has  expired,  do  your  duty." 

"  Can't  they  remain  here  to-night,  Hurdy  V 

"  Let  them,  at  your  peril." 

"It's  an  awful  night." 

"And  Mr.  Greasebeans'  business  is  worth  something." 

The  officer  had  a  large  family  to  support,  and  necessity  will  not 
admit  of  either  kindness  or  generosity  in  the  estimation  of  some 
persons. 

"  If  I  must,  I  must,  but  it  is  hard.  You  hear  what  he  says, 
madam." 

"  I  do.  There  is  no  hope  for  me.  1  would  go  to  little  Wil 
liam's  father,  but  alas!  he  is  absent  from  London,  and  Philip 
Hogan  too.  I  do  not  know  where  he  lives  now." 

"  You  will  go  out  quietly  't" 

"  It  is  useless  to  resist  ;  my  hour  has  come.  Better  perhaps  to 
die  now,  than  to  suffer  longer,"  she  replied  calmly. 

"  I  am  sorry  for  you,  upon  my  soul  I  am,"  said  the  officer. 

"  My  husband  is  torn  from  me.  My  little  boy,  dear,  noble,  little 
Henry,  is  frozen  to  dealfc.  We  have  nothing  to  live  for.  I  am 
willing  to  die." 

With  despair  riveted  upon  her  countenance,  she  took  a  child 
upon  each  arm,  and  with  Dolly  clinging  to  her  dress,  descended 
the  staircase,  and  walked  out  into  the  night. 

"  Ma,  what  you  take  me  out  this  dark  night  for?  I'm  cold,  and 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  163 

the  rain  hurts  my  face.    Let  us  go  back,  ma,  and  walk  to-morrow, 
when  it's  warm  and  light." 

"  We  can  never  go  there  again,  my  child." 

"  Then  where  shall  we  sleep  ?  It's  time  for  me  to  go  to  bed 
now.  Im'  so  sleepy  and  cold.  Frank  Tot  wants  to  go  home  too ; 
hear  how  he  cries." 

The  rain  fell  fast,  and  its  icy  drops  pierced  through  their  slight 
covering.  She  wrapped  the  clothing  around  them,  as  well  as  she 
could,  to  protect  their  tender  bodies  from  the  storm,  and  in  doing 
so  exposed  herself  to  its  fury.  But  a  mother's  devotion  kept  her 
warm.  Turning  down  an  alley  she  sought  shelter  from  an  over 
hanging  roof,  which  protected  her  from  the  rain.  Clasping  all 
three  of  the  children  in  her  arms,  she  tried  to  keep  them  warm 
with  the  heat  from  her  own  body.  Benumbed  with  the  cold,  they 
all  slept. 

Hurdy  stealthily  followed  her  footsteps,  after  separating  from 
the  officer.     He  aroused    her  from   the  torpor  into  which  she  was 
fast  sinking.     He  seated  himself  beside  her  and  took  her  hand  in 
his  own.     She  shrank  from  his  touch  as  from  an  adder's. 
"  Monster  !  why  do  you  pursue  me  ?" 
"  Because  you  are  too  handsome  for  my  peace." 
"  Let  go  my  hand,  or  I  will  scream  for  assistance." 
"  You'll  get  none.     It  is  not  a  night  the  police  love  to  be  out 
in." 

"  For  mercy  sake  leave  me — leave  me  to  die  in  peace." 
"  Not  yet,  not  quite  yet,  sweetest,"  replied   the  brute  as  he  en 
circled  her  waist,  and  pressed  his  vulgar  mouth  to  her  own. 

She  shrieked,  but  he  pressed  one  hand   upon  her  throat ;  in  the 
struggle  the  helpless  infants  fell  upon   the  frozen  earth,  and  their 
cries  mingled  with  the  imprecations  of  Hurdy,  the  faint  moans  of 
the  wretched  woman,  and  the  howling  of  the  storm. 
"Robert!  Robert!  Robert!" 

But  her  husband  could  not  defend  her.  His  services  were  re 
quired  to  enable  Britannia  to  4'  rule  the  waves." 

She  struggled  until  her  strength  was  completely  exhausted,  and 
at  last  overcome,  she  fell  upon  the  ground  and  blood  gushed  in  tor 
rents  from  her  mouth.  She  had  ruptured  a  blood  vessel.  But  the 
purposes  of  the  fiend  were  not  arrested. 

She  remained  insensible  for  some  time  after  the  monster  stole 
away.  At  length  recalled  to  consciousness  by  the  cries  of  her 
children  she  rose  from  the  ground.  She  felt  that  death  was  laying 
his  icy  grasp  upon  her. 

"  I  have  no  other  recourse  now  but  to  die.  I  may  never  see 
Robert  again  on  earth.  But  oh  !  God  of  Justice  !  let  me  meet  him 
in  heaven  !" 

She  employed  her  remaining  strength  in  taking  off  her  outside 
garments  and  in  wrapping  the  children  carefully  up  in  them.  She 
smiled  tranquilly  as  she  felt  their  warm  limbs  and  saw  them  sleep 
ing  calmly  ;  and  then  with  a  prayer  for  their  safety,  she  reclined 
upon  the  pavement  until  her  flickering  light  should  go  out.  The 
hemorrhage  continued  ;  she  became  weaker  and  weaker ;  her 
limbs  seemed  turned  to  ice. 

8 


154  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  Robert — I — I — love — you — oh — so — so  much.  Meet — me — 

in — heav "  A  fresh  gush  of  blood  choked  her  utterance, 

and  her  heart  ceased  to  beat. 

The  sleet  and  rain  turned  to  snow,  as  if  to  make  a  winding  sheet 
worthy  of  the  spotless  purity  and  devotion  of  her  character.  The 
children  slumbered,  and  the  snow  fell,  lightly,  as  if  it  would 
not  disturb  their  rest,  but  only  spread  over  them  a  white  mantle,  to 
keep  out  the  cold. 

Henry  lay  some  time  upon  the  ground  before  recovering  from 
the  effects  of  the  blow.  When  he  regained  his  feet,  it  Was  with  a 
confused  idea  of  what  brought  him  out  that  stormy  night ;  but 
when  he  looked  up  to  the  blaze  of  light  that  burst  from  the  win 
dows,  as  if  it  was  ambitious  of  dispelling  the  darkness  that  hovered 
upon  its  outposts,  he  remembered  everything — the  reason  why  he 
was  in  the  street,  his  mission  to  Mr.  Greasebeans  and  its  results. 
The  forms  of  dancers,  decked  with  all  the  extravagant  ornaments 
that  wealth  could  purchase,  or  that  vulgar  taste  coveted,  were  seen 
within,  moving  to  the  voluptuous  notes  of  the  Redovva  ;  without, 
the  storm  howled  through  the  street,  as  if  in  anger  at  the  presence 
of  enjoyment. 

Henry,  now  very  nearly  exhausted,  for  the  want  of  food  and 
rest,  dragged  his  weary  lirnbs  towards  home  :  no, — towards  the 
place  that  was  once  his  home,  for  now  he  was  houseless  and  home 
less.  The  buildings  seemed  to  reel  as  if  they  were  on  a  spree, 
and  the  creaking  of  blinds  resembled  the  sound  of  maniacal  laugh 
ter.  Still  he  toiled  onward,  braving  the  wind  and  breasting  the 
snow,  that  now  descended  in  large  flakes,  after  the  manner  of  the 
"devil  whipping  his  wife."  He  thought  he  heard  the  wailing  of  a 
child  ;  yet  it  came  so  indistinctly  to  his  ears  that  he  was  left  in 
doubt.  He  listened  anxiously.  Perhaps  it  was  Frank  Tot.  Again 
he  heard  it ;  it  was  the  cry  of  a  child,  and  down  that  alley.  With 
the  quickness  of  thought  he  flew  onwards.  A  small  drift  of  snow 
was  lying  under  the  projecting  eaves  of  a  house.  In  the  centre  of 
it  was  Dolly. 

"  Ma !    ma  !     Oh,  Ise  so  cold.     Why  do'nt  you  wake  up  "?" 

"  Dolly,  dear  Dolly,  how  came  you  here  ?" 

"  It's  Henry  !  it's  Henry  ! !"  And  the  child  wept  afresh — but  from 
joy,  now. 

"Where  is  mother?     I  do'nt  see  her,  Dolly." 

"  She  is  laying  there  asleep,  under  the  snow  ;  arid  she  won't 
wake  up,  for  I've  tried  ever  so  hard  to  make  her." 

Henry  turned  in  the  direction  that  she  pointed.  A  white  hand 
was  all  he  could  see.  It  was  stretched  forth  as  if  imploring  that 
aid  which  the  suppliant  might  never  receive.  With  a  cry  of 
anguish,  he  knelt  beside  ii.  It  answered  not  to  his  touch  :  it  was 
cold  as  marble.  He  brushed  away  the  snow.  The  face  of  his 
mother  which  had  dwelt  so  tenderly  upon  him  at  the  moment  of 
their  separation,  when  she  wrapped  the  handkerchief  around  his 
neck,  and  kissed  his  cheek — was  now  white — white  as  its  winding 
sheet.  He  called,  softly  at  first,  so  as  not  to  rouse  her  too  sud 
denly.  No  voice  answered,  no  smile  played  upon  her  lips.  He 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  156 

laid  his  hand  upon  her  face,  and  a  shudder  passed  through  his 
frame ;  for  the  touch  chilled  his  blood. 

"  No  !  Oh  no,  not  that ;  for  God's  sake,  not  that — not  dead  ! 
Dead  ?  Why,  she  will  never  kiss  me  again  ;  never  kiss  Frank 
Tot,  nor  Dolly,  if  she  is  dead.  Never  talk  to  us,  pray  for  us. 
Come  ma,  wake  up  ;  say  you  are  very  cold,  but  that  fire  will  warm 
you.  Won't  you,  dear  ma  ?"  He  laid  his  cheek  to  her  mouth  ; 
he  placed  his  hand  upon  her  heart ;  all  was  still  as  the  grave. 
"  Then  she  is  dead,  and  we  have  no  parents,  no  protectors — alone, 
all  alone  !"  He  threw  himself  upon  the  body,  and  clasping  it  in 
his  amis,  wept  as  if  his  heart  would  break. 

Voices  were  heard  approaching. 

"  It  was  down  here." 

"  No,  not  in  that  alley— it  was  further  down  the  street." 

"  Hark  !     Yes,  it  is  down  there." 

Philip  Hogan  and  his  companion  stood  by  the  snow-drift.  Their 
strong  natures  were  subdued  by  the  spectacle.  Silently  they 
lifted  the  child  from  his  mother's  corpse.  He  did  not  resist, 
because,  overcome  by  long-sustained  toil  and  anxiety,  he  had 
fainted. 

"  Frank  Tot  and  William's  here,  too,"  said  Dolly. 

"  Where,  my  child  ?" 

"  In  the  snow,  to  keep  'em  warm.  The  snow  kept  me  warm, 
while  I  lay  quietly.  But  now  the  wind  hurts  me.  Won't  you  take 
us  to  the  tire  ? 

"  That  I  will,"  said  Hogan. 

They  raised  the  two  infants  from  the  snow--drift.  The  stranger, 
little  William,  was  cold  ;  death  had  claimed  him  as  a  victim.  Frank 
yet  breathed  ;  his  extremities  were  chilled,  but  the  pulsations  of 
his  heart,  like  the  signal  given  at  sea,  spoke  of  life  arid  hope. 
They  wrapped  the  clothing  round  those  who  "still  lived,"  and 
Hogan  threw  off  his  thick  coat  and  added  it  to  what  already  pro 
tected  them  from  the  storm. 

"  Now  let  us  carry  Robert's  children  to  my  house.  His  wife 
and  the  baby  can  remain  for  the  present;  no  one  will  molest  them 
now."  Hogan's  good  wife  manifested  all  the  interest  of  a  mother 
for  the  sufferers.  She  placed  them  in  bed  and  gave  them  warm 
drink  to  stimulate  vitality,  and  in  a  few  minutes  she  had  the  satis 
faction  of  witnessing  a  change  in  their  appearance.  The  warm 
blood  revisited  their  purple  lips,  and  the  pale  hue  of  their  cheeks 
receded  before  the  tide  of  life  that  was  now  upon  its  flood. 

Frank  Tot  opened  his  eyes  and  smiled,  unconscious  of  the  irre 
parable  loss  he  had  sustained. 

•'Where  is  my  ma"?"  asked  Dolly. 

"  They're  gone  to  bring  her  here,"  replied  Mrs.  Hogan  sadly. 

"  Oh  !  I'm  so  glad,  I  shall  see  my  ma  again  ;  and  she'll  talk  to 
me  now,  won't  she  ?" 

The  kind  woman  turned  away  her  head,  and  a  groan  burst  from 
Henry's  bosom. 

"What  ails  oo,  Henry?  Why  don't  oo  be  happy?  They're 
goin'  to  bring  ma  here,  where  she  will  be  nice  and  warm.  I  told 


146  .ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

her  not  to  go  out  walking  such  a  dark,  cold  night.  She  won't  do 
so  any  more,  will  she  V 

"  Alas  !  no,  poor  child." 

"  But  what  makes  oo  look  so  1  Don't  oo  want  my  ma  to  come 
here.  Isn't  there  nuff  fire  to  keep  us  all  warm  ?" 

k'  Not  enough  to  warm  her  again,"  said  Mrs.  Hogan,  as  the  big 
tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks. 

"  Then  let  me  put  some  more  coal  on,  for  ma  will  be  very  cold, 
I  know  she  will,  for  her  hand  was  just  as  hard  as  ice.  My  pa  will 
pay  you  some  day." 

And  Dolly  got  out  of  the  bed  and  put  some  coal  in  the  grate 
with  her  little  hands.  Mrs.  Hogan  did  not  know  how  to  undeceive 
her  as  to  the  fate  of  her  mother,  and  she  waited  for  circumstances 
to  do -it. 

"  Don't  oo  think  it  looks  more  cheerful  now  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Will  ma  think  so  too  ?     Oh  !  here  she  comes  !  here  she — " 

Dolly  paused  abruptly  when  she  saw  her  mother  brought  in,  pale 
and  cold  as  when  she  last  saw  her.  They  laid  the  corpse  upon  a 
bed  in  the  inner  room.  Henry  and  his  sister  stood  beside  it.  The 
boy  gazed  steadfastly  through  his  tears  upon  the  face  of  the  dead, 
wringing  his  hands,  but  uttering  no  sound  except  occasionally  an 
agonFzing  sob,  that  expressed  the  desolation  of  his  heart.  Dolly 
was  at  first  awed  by  the  solemn  appearance  of  the  corpse  ;  it  could 
not  be  that  mother  whose  face  always  wore  a  loving  expression. 
She  surveyed  the  features  critically,  and  to  solve  her  doubts  she 
pushed  a  chair  to  the  side  of  the  bed,  and  getting  upon  it,  tried, 
with  gentle  touch,  to  raise  the  lids  of  the  eyes.  The  orb  that  met 
her  view  was  her  mother's,  but  so  fixed  and  glassy,  it  appalled  her. 
She  looked  long  and  anxiously  upon  the  corpse  ;  she  traced  each 
line,  examined  each  feature  ;  she  pressed  her  lips  upon  the  cold 
cheek,  and  perceiving  no  motion,  receiving  no  caress,  her  lips  quiv 
ered,  and  then  the  foundation  of  her  grief  gave. way.  She  threw 
her  arms  around  her  brother's  neck,  and  together  they  mourned  over 
the  pulseless  form  of  the  unsympathising  dead. 

Preparations  were  being  made  for  the  humble  funeral,  A  plain 
coffin  was  all  that  could  be  afforded,  and  into  that  the  body  was 
placed,  clothed  in  the  scanty  livery  of  the  tomb.  England  required 
the  services  of  her  husband  to  make  heroes  with,  whom  she  could 
worship  in  their  life-time  and  embalm  with  her  tears  after  death. 
Heroes,  who  would  strengthen  her  power,  and  visit  with  injustice 
and  contempt,  the  country  of  their  birth.  England,  overburthened 
with  philanthropic  love  for  the  human  race,  claimed  the  services  of 
Robert  Kane,  but  she  neither  cared  for  his  helpless  wife  while  liv 
ing,  nor  buried  her  remains  after  death.  How  could  it  be  expected, 
in°the  great  struggle  for  national  supremacy  and  renown,  that  the 
happiness  of  her  own  people  should  arrest  the  attention  of  the  gov 
ernment.  The  eyes  of  her  statesmen  were  raised  to  such  a  height 
in  order  to  ascertain  what  particular  corner  of  the  world  most  needed 
the  delicate  and  persuasive  diplomacy  of  their  cannon,  that  it  would 
really  be  asking  too  much  to  require  them  to  listen  to  the  hopes  and 
fears  of  the  vulgar  instruments  of  their  wills.  What  had  they  to 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  167 

do  with  the  feelings  of  the  common  herd  ?  Was  it  not  enough  that 
they  were  to  be  offered  up  as  a  sacrifice  upon  the  altar  of  British 
ambition  ?  Did  not  their  rotting  carcasses  and  bleached  bones  in 
crease  the  renown  of  their  country  ?  What  happier  fate  could  ambi 
tion  desire  ?  And  so  onward  rolled  the  government  like  a  vast  Jug 
gernaut,  crushing  and  mangling  the  helpless  victims  of  its  power. 
Still  forward  it  rolled  through  domestic  altars,  across  sacred 
hearth-stones  ;  the  fell  precursor  of  ruined  hopes,  blasted  happiness, 
sickness,  suffering  and  death. 

The  hour  had  arrived  when  the  body  was  to  be  consigned  to  its 
final  resting-place. 

"  Henry,  must  they  put  ma  in  the  ground  ?" 

"  Yes,  "Dolly." 

"  In  the  frozen  ground  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  WTon't  she  be  cold  there  V1 

"  No." 

"Why  not?  I  should  be." 

"  Not  if  you  were  dead,  Dolly." 

"Can't  people  feel  when  they  are  dead  ?" 

"No." 

"  How  long  will  ma  stay  there,  Henry  ?" 

"  For  a  long,  long  time  ;  after  you  and  I  grow  up  and  die,  long 
after  that." 

Dolly  sadly  reflected  upon  his  words. 

"  But  won't  ma  be  hungry  in No,  she  can't  if  she  don't 

feel.  Poor  ma,  she'll  never  take  me  on  her  knee  again,  never  put 
me  asleep,  never  kiss  me,  never  pet  me  any  more.  Dolly  got  no 
ma  now.  Dolly  wants  to  die  too." 

They  gently  forced  the  child,  frantic  with  grief,  from  the  coffin. 
The  lid  was  closed,  the  screws  driven  home,  and  the  body  was 
borne  away. 

"  Father  !  father  !  why  don't  you  come  and  keep  them  from  car 
rying  ma  away.  Come  quick,  or  we  shall  never  see  her  again, 
never  see  her  again  !"  shrieked  the  child  as  she  caught  a  last 
glimpse  of  the  coffin. 

Henry's  grief  was  more  subdued,  but  it  was  not  less  intense. 
For  several  days  he  could  not  leave  the  house,  and  remained  in 
the  corner  a  picture  of  mute  despair.  He  began,  however,  to  rally 
his  energies,  for  he  felt  that  greater  responsibilities  now  rested 
upon  him.  His  sister  and  brother  had  no  other  protector,  and  with 
the  impulses  of  a  noble  boy  he  prepared  to  discharge  what  he  be 
lieved  to  be  his  duty  to  them.  Mrs.  Hogan  insisted  that  they 
should  remain  with  her,  although  they  could  not  well  afford  to 
make  an  addition  to  their  family. 

One  week  after  the  funeral  Henry  asked  Mr.  Hogan  what  he 
should  do. 

"  Do,  my  young  friend  ?  Why  remain  here  with  Dolly  and  Frank 
Tot." 

"  I  can't  remain  here  in  idleness  ;  1  should  not  be  happy,  Mr. 
Hogan." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  return  to  your  post  at  Mr.  Greasebean's  ?" 


ENGLISH  SERFDOM 


r.  ."  Never,  sir  !     I  will  never  put  my  foot  within  the  walls  of  his 
tactory  again." 

''  Then  we  must  see  what  else  can  be  thought  of,  if  you  insist 
upon  doing  something." 

Thank  you,  Mr.  Hogan  ;  if  you  please.  I  know  I  shall  be 
happier  if  I  can  work  for  Dolly  and  Frank  Tot,  for  they  have  no 
one  to  do  it  now." 

A  situation  was  obtained  in  another  manufacturing  establishment, 
where,  for  the  same  number  of  hours'  labor,  he  obtained  the  same 
compensation  which  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Greasebeans. 
Faithfully  did  Henry  perform  his  task.  His  head  often  ached  and 
his  limbs  throbbed  with  pain,  but  true  to  his  purposes  he  was  at 
his  wheel  every  morning  at  five  o'clock.  It  was  necessary,  in 
order  to  do  that,  to  rise  from  his  bed  long  before  daylight,  now  the 
days  were  so  short.  Frank  Tot  was  not  awake  when  he  left  in 
the  morning,  and  he  was  nicely  tucked  up  in  bed  before  he  returned 
at  night,  so  that  Henry  could  only  pet  him  on  Sundays.  But 
Dolly  never  would  go  to  bed  until  he  returned  ;  because  she 
wanted  to  kiss  him  and  thank  him  for  all  he  was  doing  for  her.  On 
his  way  to  the  factory  he  passed  by  a  toy  shop,  and  he  often 
paused  for  a  moment  to  look  at  a  nice  little  doll  that  was  hanging 
invitingly  at  the  window,  to  excite  the  slumbering  desires  for  ma 
ternity  in  the  bosoms  of  all  little  girls  who  passed  that  way. 
Henry  thought  how  happy  the  possession  of  that  doll  would  make 
his  sister,  and  once  he  walked  into  the  store  and  asked  the  price. 
"  One  and  sixpence."  His  heart  sunk  at  the  magnitude  of  the 
sum.  The  fruits  of  three  days'  labor  could  not  be  spared  from  the 
necessities  of  life  ;  still,  as  he  walked  by  the  shop  the  doll  hung 
temptingly  there.  Dolly  had  nothing  to  amuse  her  all  day,  she 
must  be  so  lonely  without  him.  He  reflected  upon  the  subject  long 
and  painfully.  What  would  Mr.  Hogan  say,  if,  while  indebted  to 
his  roof  for  shelter,  he  should  be  guilty  of  such  extravagance.  And 
yet  it  would  make  Dolly  so  happy,  the  possession  of  that  doll.  The 
temptation  was  too  great,  and  he  finally  entered  the  shop.  The 
doll  had  been  sold.  Now  that  it  was  beyond  his  reach,  he  was 
certain  the  purchase  would  have  been  altogether  right,  and  he  was 
very  sorry  it  was  sold.  The  woman  observing  his  chagrin,  said 
she  could  make  him  another  just  like  it.  Was  she  sure  it  would 
be  exactly  like  it1?  She  answered  in  the  affirmative.  And  then 
lie  timidly  asked  her  if  she  would  receive  instalments  of  one  penny 
a  day.  The  honest  face  of  the  boy  interested  her,  and  she  replied 
that  she  would.  As  evidence  of  his  sincerity,  and  to  bind  the  bar 
gain,  he  paid  down  the  first  instalment  of  one  penny.  Every  night 
as  he  returned  home  he  deposited  a  like  sum.  He  worked  more 
cheerfully  at  his  task  after  the  bargain  was  made,  for  he  thought 
of  the  happiness  the  present  would  give  Dolly.  At  length  the  six 
teen  instalments  were  all  "  paid  in,"  and  the  doll  was  delivered  to 
him. 

''  Have  you  no  brother?"  asked  the  woman. 

"  Oh  yes,  a  dear  little  fellow." 

"  Don't  you  want  to  buy  this  horse  and  wagon  for  him  '?" 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  169 

"  I  should  like  to  very  much  if  I  had  money  to  spare,"  he  re 
plied,  with  a  wistful  countenance. 

"  The  price  is  one  shilling,  but  you  are  such  a  good  boy  you 
may  have  it  for  eight  pence." 

"  Plow  it  would  amuse  Frank  Tot,"  thought  Henry. 

"  You  may  take  it  now,  and  pay  me  one  penny  a-day  for  it." 

The  temptation  was  too  much  for  his  prudence,  and  he  bought 
it.  It  was  Saturday  night,  and  taking  his  gifts  home  he  laid  them 
carefully  away  until  morning,  so  he  might  witness  the  pleasure 
with  which  they  were  received. 

After  breakfast  he  gave  the  doll  to  his  sister.  And  he  was 
compensated  for  all  his  toil  by  the  joy  with  which  she  received  it. 
Alternately  throwing  her  arms  around  his  neck  and  pressing  the 
doll  to  her  bosom,  she  gave  way  to  lively  demonstrations  of  plea 
sure.  When  the  first  emotions  of  delight  were  over  she  looked 
from  Henry  to  Frank  Tot,  as  if  she  thought  he  too  ought  to  have 
a  present.  Frank's  lips  began  to  quiver,  for  his  young  ideas  man 
aged  to  give  shape  to  a  charge  of  partiality.  When  Henry  placed 
upon  the  floor  the  horse  and  wagon,  Frank  Tot  looked  first  at 
the  wagon,  and  then  at  Henry,  and  then  at  Dolly,  with  a  half-wise, 
halt-pleased  expression  upon  his  features,  as  if  die  judgment  he 
was  making  up  upon  the  merits  of  the  horse  and  wagon  was  in 
compatible  with  anything  like  merriment.  But  when  he  had  ar 
rived  at  his  own  diminutive  conclusions  upon  the  articles  in  ques 
tion,  he  proclaimed  his  satisfaction  by  vociferous  cooings  and 
energetic  clapping  of  hands. 

It  was  apparent  to  Mr.  Hogan  and  his  wife  that  Henry  Kane 
was  overtasking  his  strength.  His  form  was  emaciated  ;  his  cheeks 
became  pale  and  his  eyes  sunken,  while  there  was  a  listlesstiess  in 
his  movements  which  betokened  great  physical  lassitude.  He 
would  not  listen  to  their  persuasions  to  discontinue  his  daily  task, 
until  his  strength  entirely  gave  way.  One  morning  he  essayed  to 
rise  from  his  bed  ;  but  his  head  swam  round,  and  lie  could  not  stand. 
Three  times  he  made  the  attempt  in  the  belief  that  it  was  only  im 
agination  ;  finally  he  was  obliged  to  yield,  and  daylight  found  him 
still  in  bed.  A  long  and  wasting  disease  now  preyed  upon  his 
frame,  and  at  last  there  seemed  to  be  no  hope  of  his  recovery.  To 
Hogan  this  was  a  severe  blow,  as  it  required  the  greatest  industry 
and  economy  to  provide  for  his  own  family.  When  he  began  to 
despair  of  Henry's  life,  the  thought  occurred  to  him  that  Mr.  Grease- 
beans,  whose  philanthropic  efforts  in  the  cause  of  foreign  missions 
was  the  theme  of  universal  praise,  might  not  think  the  helpless 
children  of  Robert  Kane  altogether  beneath  his  charities.  He  had 
been  told  it  was  necessary  for  such  good  men  as  Mr.  Greasebeans, 
in  order  to  behold  suffering  and  oppression  in  far  off  countries,  to 
elevate  their  eyes  at  an  angle  which  carried  their  vision  altogether 
above  the  lowly  mendicant  at  their  own  doors.  Nevertheless,  he 
was  not  without  hopes  of  being  able,  by  a  fervent  appeal  to  the 
sympathies  of  that  gentleman,  to  induce  him  to  withdraw  his  gaze 
from  foreign  amelioration  and  emancipation  long  enough  to  observe 
the  distressing  situation  of  the  motherless  children.  To  accomplish 


160  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

that  object  he  started  for  the  counting-house  of  Greasebeans,  Snod- 
grass  &  Co. 

Mr.  Greasebeans  was  engaged  in  conversation  with  the  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Rumfelt,  and  Hogan  seated  himself  in  the  corner  until 
the  conference  was  over.  As  usual  they  were  devising  means  for 
carrying  on  a  vigorous  assault  against  oppression  in  all  its  strong 
holds,  provided  it  was  entrenched  upon  any  portion  of  the  globe 
except  that  from  whence  their  charities  issued.  According  to  their 
definition  of  charity,  it  did  not  apply,  in  the  remotest  degree,  to  the 
subjects  of  Great  Britain.  It  was  enough  that  they  could  boast  "  I 
am  an  Englishman  ;"  and  it  ran.de  not  the  slightest  difference 
whether  the  annunciation  came  from  a  full  stomach,  or  was  the 
scarcely  perceptible  echo  of  famine  in  its  appeal  for  bread.  It 
could  not  be  expected  that  charity,  English  charity,  would  grapple 
with  facts,  stern,  unyielding  facts,  vulgar  facts  of  every  day  occur 
rence,  when  there  was  so  much  pleasure  to  be  obtained  in  a  free 
indulgence  in  the  romance  of  imagination,  and,  what  it  would  be  so 
unchristianly  to  overlook,  so  much  notoriety  also. 

It  was  apparent  that  the  discourse  of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Rum- 
felt  had  been  more  than  ordinarily  unctuous,  for  the  sympathetic 
face  of  Mr.  Greasebeans   was   very  perceptibly  elongated.     The 
corners  of  the  mouth  were  piously  drawn  down,  while  the  eyes  were 
sanctimoniously  elevated.     The  senior  member  of  the  well  known 
house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co.  was  seldom  more  aroused, 
than  by  the  information  communicated  by  Parson  Rumfelt. 
"  Do  you  say  they  actually  roasted — " 
"Baked."    " 

"  Baked  a  victim,  under  the  very  drippings  of  the  Lord's  sanc 
tuary  T' 

"  Verily,  in  the  presence  of  the  servant  of  the  Lord  ;   and,  not 
satisfied  with  such  an  awi\\\  exhibition  of  profanity,  they  asked  him, 
wouldent  he — the  Rev.  Nicodemus  Straitjacket — take'a  slice!1' 
"Of  the  victim's  body?" 

Cut  from  the  loins,  which  they  assured  him,  with  significant 
gesticulations,  was  considered  a  tit  bit." 

"Well,  what  of  it1?"  said  Dykeman,  who  had  just  entered. 
"  Don't  you  partake  of  the  body  of  the  Savior  a  dozen  times  a  year  ; 
and  not  only  that,  but  drink  of  his  blood,  And  pretty  deeply,  too, 
some  of  you,  when  it  is  of  good  quality  1  Why,  you  are  worse  can 
nibals  than  the  Hottentots;  for  you  pretend  to  eat  and  drink  of  that 
which,  in  fact,  you  never  touch,  while  they  'go  the  entire  swine,' 
with  the  utmost  simplicity,  and  an  entire  absence  of  any  thing  like 
deception  or  humbug." 

"Mr.  Dykeman,  you  have  such  strange  thoughts,"  observed  Mr. 
Greasebeans,  with  strong  marks  of  commiseration  upon  his  pious 
countenance. 

The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Rumfelt  shot  a  glance  of  indignation  at  the 
blasphemer,  which  was  intended  to  overcome  him  as  effectually, 
though  not  after  the  manner,  that  Goliath  was  vanquished  by  David. 
But  Dykeman  was  proof  against  the  assaults  of  Mr.  Rumfelt's  florid 
countenance  ;  much  more  so,  indeed,  than  the  latter  was  suspected 
of  being  in  the  matter  of  either  rum,  brandy,  or  gin.  This  opinion, 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  16l 

however,  was  based  more  upon  the  hue  of  his  complexion   thai 
upon  any  facts  admitted  by  the  reverend  gentleman,  o/Sed  i 
the  'course  of  human  events  :"  a  condition  of  affairs   neverthe 
less,  that  warranted  one  of  the  clergy  in  hintincr  to  Mr.  Rtimfelt  that" 
it  he  had  not  been  justly  accused  m  regard  to°  complexion    he  had 
better  take  in  his  sign.     A  solemn  joke,  which  severed  f01  all  time 

«£±£ tlons which had existed between to&9£& 


' 


be  despatched  at  an  early  day   ' 

That  intelligence,  if  we  make  what  we  ought  out 


162  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

of  it,  cannot  fail  of  adding  two  thousand  pounds  to  the  special 
fund." 

•'  If  it  is  properly  advertised,  by  fitting  wood-cuts,  with  coffins, 
hammer  and  nails,  &c.  &c.  &c.,  I  think  you  might  reasonably 
count  upon  two  thousand  pounds,  and  that  sum  will  enable  you  to 
set  apart  quite  an  item  for  incidental  expenses,"  said  Dykeman. 

Mr.  Rumfelt  answered  this  opinion  by  casting  a  furtive  glance 
at  Mr.  Dykeman  before  he  continued  his  remarks. 

"  Mr.  Roorback  also  informs  us,  that  one  week  before  he  wrote, 
two  children  were  starved  to  death  by  their  unfeeling  masters." 

"  Come  now,  that  is  really  too  frightful,"  ejaculated  Mr. 
Greasebeans,  with  strong  marks  of  indignation  upon  his  usually 
benign  features. 

"  A  fate  that  is  constantly  witnessed  in  Ireland,  in  the  mining 
districts  of  England,  and  in  London,  too,"  replied  Dykeman.  "  But 
that's  nothing,  for  it  has  been  demonstrated,  not  only  by  anatomists, 
but  by  the  society  which  has  the  honor,  Mr.  Greasebeans,  of  claim 
ing  you  as  its  president,  that  it  is  much  more  painful  for  a  negro  to 
die  of  starvation  than  for  a  white  man  ;  which  may  be  accounted 
for  upon  the  hypothesis  that  the  slave,  being  ordinarily  well  fed, 
finds  it  a  more  disagreeable  operation  to  have  his  food  suddenly  stop 
ped,  than  the  free-born  Englishman,  who,  from  subsisting,  any 
number  of  years,  upon  just  enough  to  keep  body  and  soul  from  dis 
solving  partnership,  gets  accustomed  to  his  fate  by  the  time  the 
supply  ceases  altogether.  And  this  I  assume  to  be  much  more 
consistent  with  the  Christian  religion,  than  the  barbarous  practices 
of  our  transatlantic  brethren." 

The  only  response  vouchsafed  by  Mr.  Rumfelt  was  a  look  of 
withering  contempt,  designed  to  make  Dykeman  understand  that 
he,  Dykeman,  occupied  at  that  moment  a  position  infinitely  beneath 
the  notice  of  Ebenezer  Rumfelt. 

"  Does  Mr.  Roorback  make  mention  of  any  cash  transactions  in 
human  flesh  V  asked  Mr.  Greasebeans,  without  indicating  whether 
he  did  or  did  not  coincide  in  opinion  with  his  reverend  visitor,  as  to 
the  precise  locality  then  and  there  occupied  by  Mr.  Dykeman,  in 
his  estimation. 

''  He  informs  me  that  sales  frequently  take  place  by  which  rela 
tions  are  separated  from  each  other." 

k'  An  example  we  are  daily  setting  them  by  the  operations  of 
our  press-gangs  ;  with  this  slight  difference,  that  with  them  those 
who  are  taken  away,  and  those  who  remain,  are  well  fed  and 
clothed,  while  with  us  the  family  of  the  victim,  as  in  the  case  of 
Robert  Kane,  are  delivered  over  to  suffering  and  death.  These 
things,  however,  can  all  be  reconciled  by  the  aforesaid  hypothesis, 
that'white  folks  can  and  ought  to  suffer  more  than  black." 

"  He  states  further,"  continued  Mr.  Rumfelt,  without  even 
deigning  a  glance  at  Mr.  Dykeman,  "  that  these  sales,  in  separating 
man  from  wife,  and  resulting  in  second  marriages,  beget  a  disregard 
for  the  nuptial  tie,  and  consequently  a  corruption  of  morals,  the 
bare  contemplation  of  which  is  truly  appalling." 

"  Dreadful  .'"  uttered  Mr.  Greasebeans. 

•'There  is,"  observed  Mr.  Dykeman,  who  would  take  part  in  the 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  163 

conversation,  apt  withstanding  the  evident  disgust  with   which  his 
remarks  wererdfstened   to  by  Ebenezer  Rumfe.lt,   "  a  manifest  rea 
son  why  Englishmen  should  be  permitted  to  indulge  in  the  severest 
animadversions  upon  tiie  absence  of  nuptial  fidelity  among  the  '  rest 
of  mankind  ;'  a  license  which  we  have  purchased  by  the  correct 
ness  of  our  own  deportment  in  that  regard,  as  a  nation  and  as  indi 
viduals.     It  is  true,  some  of  our  monarchs  have  not  been  shining 
lights  for  the  guidance  of  the  faithful.     It  was  shrewdly  suspected 
that  the  wife  of  Richard  the  Second  was  no  better  than  she  should 
be.     The  consort  of  one  of  the  Edwards  was  also  accused  of  being 
rather  too  unmanageable  and  hard  to  satisfy.     Queen   Bess,  too, 
was  not  above  suspicion,  and  George  the  Fourth,  the  most  accom 
plished  gentleman  in  all  England,  did  not  render  that  fealty  to  the 
matrimonial  tie  which  is  indispensably  necessary  in  order  to  enable 
every  well-regulated  family  to  enjoy  the  full  fruition  of  connubial 
bliss.     It  has  also  been  intimated  that  licentiousness  and  debauch 
ery  prevailed,  to  an  extent  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  any  other 
nation  on  earth,  during  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  but  that 
was  only  the  natural   effervescence  which  might  reasonably  have 
been  expected  after  the  round-headed,  crop-haired  rule  of  Oliver 
Cromwell.    And  even  now,  the  fashionables  of  England  do  not  set 
a  very  commendable  example,  in  the  matter  of  conjugal  fidelity,  if 
we  are  to  credit  the  portraitures  (so  much  lauded  by  the  press  of 
London,)  drawn  by  G.  W.  X.  Y.  Z.  Reynolds.     On  the   other 
hand,  we  can  boast  of  one  striking  example  of  loyalty  to  the  mar 
riage  knot.     Henry  the  Eighth  will,  for  all  time,  stand  out  promi 
nently  as  the  exponent  of  connubial  faithfulness,   in  this,  that  he 
adhered  to  one  wife  until  he  had  murdered  her,  before  he  would 
yield  his  royal   hand   to  another.     Probably  the  world  will   never 
know  another  such  a  beast  as  he  proved  himself  in  connection  with 
his  half  dozen  wives.     We  can  pardon  him,  though;  of  course  we 
can,  because  he  was  sometimes  deceived,  and  also  because  he  was 
the  head  and  front  of  the  reformation  in  England.  In  consideration 
of  those  facts,  we  can  overlook  a  world  of  rascality.  We  also  have 
this  additional  consolation,  for  whicn  I  trust  we  shall  be  duly  grate 
ful.     It  is  not  half  so  wicked  for  white  people  to  indulge  in  such 
sinfulness,  (which  I  regret  to  say  has  been  too  prevalent  ever  since 
David  cast  liquorice  eyes  upon  Uriah's  wife,)  as  it  is  for  negroes  ; 
an^exemption   from  culpability  which   must  be  traced  to  the  fact, 
that,  being  the  descendents  of  Ham,  they  are  the  especial  favorites 
of  the  Almighty." 

"  And  he  finally  says,"  inquired  the  impenetrable  Ebenezer 
Rumfelt,  "  that  the  planters  are  turning  their  attention  to  the  raise- 
ing  of  children  for  the  slave  market." 

"As  they  would  cattle?"  remarked  the  senior  member  of  the 
house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  and  Company,  with  his  sancti 
monious  face  greatly  elongated. 

"  Precisely  so." 

"  Which  I  assume  to  be  an  excellent  improvement ;  for  to  pro 
pagate  the  human  species  faster  than  the  old  fogy  laws  of  nature 
would  permit,  cannot  be  otherwise  than  an  amendment  highly  ac 
ceptable  to  the  divine  founder  of  those  laws,"  observed  Mr.  Dyke- 


164  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

man.  "  We  had  better  introduce  the  system  into  Great  Britain,  if 
it  has  not  been  patented  in  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of 
increasing  our  own  population  ;  as  the  amazing  numbers,  who, 
strange  to  say,  prefer  barbarous,  half-civilized,  slavery-accursed 
America  to  their  native  country,  is  sadly  interfering  with  the  popu 
lation  of  the  British  Empire.  There  is  one  powerful  argument  in 
favor  of  this  valuable  amendment  of  the  laws  of  nature,  as  applied 
to  this  country,  Mr.  Greasebeans,  which  will  not  fail  to  present 
itself  to  you  in  a  business  point  of  view.  The  wealth  of  the 
house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass,  and  Co.,  will  be  increased  in 
proportion  to  the  decrease  of  the  wages  of  labor,  caused  by  a 
surplus  of  operatives.  Do  you  take,  Mr.  Greasebeans  ?  It  is 
true  that  result  will  multiply  the  distress  among  the  poor,  but  we 
are  not  supposed  to  be  affected  by  such  consideration,  provided 
the  distress  and  suffering  only  exists  in'Great  Britain." 

"  Mr.  Greasebeans,  it  is  useless  to  conclude  the  interesting  state 
ment  made  by  Mr.  Roorback  this  morning,"  said  Mr.  Rumfelt.  "  I 
will  avail  myself  of  another  opportunity  when  we  shall  not  be 
subjected  to  impertinent  interruption."  And  .adjusting  his  wig 
with  a  delicate  touch,  Mr.  Rumfelt  left  the  office  with  a  stateli- 
ness  of  bearing,  that  indicated  an  ability  to  sustain  all  the  reli 
gion  and  morals  of  the  United  Kingdom  upon  his  own  shoulders. 

"  Mr.  Greasebeans,"  said  Hogan  timidly,  "  I  called  this  morning 
to  see  if  you  would  contribute  something  for  the  support  of  the 
children  of  Robert  Kane,  who  was  seized  a  few  months  ago  by  the 
press-gang." 

"  Really  now,  Mr.  ;  what's  your  name  ?" 

"  Hogan." 

"  Hogan,  I  don't  see  in  what  way  I  can  assist  you." 

"  His  wife  perished  on  the  night  you  turned  her  from  your  house 

"  Allow  me  to  interrupt  you,  Mr.  Hogan,"  said  Mr.  Greasebeans, 
as  he  smoothed  his  white  neck-cloth  ;  "  on  the  night  she  was  ejected 
by  virtue  of  legal  process.  You  should  pay  a  proper  regard  to 
terms,  Mr.  Hogan." 

"  At  all  events,  she  was  turned  into  the  street  that  fatal  night, 
notwithstanding  the  earnest  supplications  of  her  son." 

"You  could  not,  of  course,  expect  me  to  attend  to  business  on 
the  night  a  party  was  given  at  my  house." 

"  Not  if  it  was  to  save  the  life  of  a  human  being?" 

"  Of  course  not.  The  house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co. 
have  established  certain  inflexible  rules,  which  are  not  departed 
from  under  any  circumstances.  The  senior  member  of  that  house, 
discovering  how  admirably  they  worked,  adopted  similar  rules  for 
the  government  of  his  household." 

"  Well,  Mrs.  Kane  died  that  night—" 

"  You  have  mentioned  that  fact  once  before,"  remarked  the  im 
perturbable  Mr.  Greasebeans. 

"  And  her  three  young  and  helpless  children  are  now  at  my 
house,"  continued  Hogan. 

"  I  trust  you  take  excellent  care  of  them,  Mr.  Hogan." 

,  ".ewsi  9*04 


AND   AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  165 

"  I  do,  to  the  extent  of  my  ability  ;  but  having  a  large  family  of 
my  own  to  support,  I  find  it  impossible  to  do  justice  to  them  all." 
"  Ah  !" 

"  1  hope,  therefore,  you  will  give  a  small  portion  of  the  large 
sum  you  are  devoting  to  the  abolition  cause,  for  the  temporary  sup 
port  of  those  poor  orphans." 

"Mr.  Hogan  are  you  aware  of  what  you  ask?"  replied  Mr. 
Greasebeans,  with  unusual  vivacity.  "  Do  you  know  that  that  fund 
is  to  be  sacredly  devoted  to  the  righteous  cause  for  which  it  was 
raised,  and  that  it  would  be  worse  than  profanity  to  divert  it  to  any 
other  purpose  ?  Get  thee  behind  me,  tempter  !  I  am  proof  against 
your  seductions." 

"  I  am  sorry  if  I  have  made  an  improper  request,  Mr.  Grease- 
beans." 

"  You  ought  to  be,  for  there  is  no  higher  crime  known  to  morals 
than  seeking  to  undermine  the  charitable  resolves  of  the  virtuous 
and  good." 

Mr.  Greasebeans  wiped  the  tears  from  his  spectacles,  which  the 
consciousness  of  an  assault  upon  his  rectitude  had  gathered  there  ; 
for  his  feelings  were  very  much  hurt.  Hogan  did  not  exactly  com 
prehend  the  offence  he  had  committed,  but  he  had  no  doubt  it  was 
of  a  very  heinous  character,  or  it  would  not  have  drawn  tears  from 
Mr.  Greasebeans1  spectacles.  Still  the  condition  of  the  helpless 
children  was  uppermost  in  his  mind,  and  he  ventured  hesitatingly 
to  remark — 

"  Perhaps  you  may  not  consider  it  wrong  to  contribute  something 
out  of  your  private  funds  for  those  unfortunate  orphans,  who — " 

"  Mr.  Hogan,  you  will  please  excuse  me  from  listening  further  to 
your  requests.  My  nerves  have  really  been  so  much  shocked  by 
your  unfeeling,  I  may  say,  cruel  assault,  upon  my  virtue,  that  1  am 
quite  incapacitated  from  attending  to  any  business  to-day.  You 
will  excuse  me,  Mr.  Hogan,  I  know  you  will,  after  having  so  un 
kindly  assailed  my  nervous  system.  Good  morning,  Mr.  Hogan. 
Dykeman,  show  the  gentleman  the  door." 

"You  see,"  observed  Dykeman,  as  he  bowed  Hogan  into  the 
street,  "  all  the  philanthropy  of  Mr.  Greasebeans  is  awakened  by 
foreign  missions.  It  cannot  be  expected,  therefore,  that  he  should 
interest  himself  in  the  cause  of  domestic  suffering.  You  will 
appreciate  the  purity  of  his  motives  Mr.  Hogan,  and  make  mention 
of  it  wheresoever  you  may  have  an  opportunity.  %  Good  morning, 
Mr.  Hogan  ;  I  hope  you  may  have  a  nice  time  with  Robert  Kane's 
children." 

Hogan  turned  gloomily  away,  for  he  had  a  half-formed  idea  that 
unutterable  meanness  was  at  the  bottom  of  these  hypocritical  pro 
testations. 


166  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

"  1  think  of  thee  ;— that  eye  of  flame. 

Those  tresses,  falling  bright  and  free, 
I  hat  brow,  where  'Beauty  writes  her  name  :' 
[  think  of  thee— 1  think  of  thee."— PKENTICE. 

ELLEN  KNOWLKS,  confident  that  she  had  entrapped  the  affections 
of  her  cousin,  impatiently  awaited  the  hour  when  he  should  make 
a  declaration  of  love.  She  was  apprehensive  that  Lord  Melville 
might  disclose  the  part  she  had  taken  in  his  arrest ;  and,  therefore 
she  often  threw  herself  in  the  way  of  Christie,  to  give  him  oppor 
tunities  of  declaring  his  passion.  For  that  purpose  she  walked  over 
to  her  aunt's  several  days  after  he  rescued  Lady  Katharine  from 
the  river.  Her  heart  beat  triumphantly  when  she  saw  him  seated 
in  the  cozy  little  parlor  before  a  cozy  fire.  The  aspect  of  the  room 
spoke  of  love  and  marriage.  And  now.  she  thought,  was  the  favor 
able  hour  for  a  disclosure  of  his  passion. 

"  Ah,  Ellen,  you  are  welcome.  Take  this  chair  by  the  fire ;  the 
keen  air  has  given  your  cheeks  a  rosy  hue,  which,  by  the  way,  is 
not  a  stranger  to  them." 

"  Are  you  so  observing  ?  I  was  not  aware  you  ever  noted  such 
trifles.  I  thought,  so  far  as  you  are  concerned,  a  lady  might  be 
white,  green,  or  blue,  without  attracting  attention." 

'  It  would  not  be  considered  a  matter  of  very  great  importance 
provided  her  heart  was  not  black,  cousin  Ellen." 
The  girl  winced. 

"  And  do  you  estimate  the  moral  qualities  so  highly  ?" 
Far  above  either  personal  beauty,  rank,  or  wealth." 
She  paused.     Could  it  be  possible  he  had  obtained  a  knowledge 
of  her  character.      If  so,  her  aspirations  were  hopeless,  and  her 
scheming  vain.     But  no,  her  dissimulation  had  been  too  profound. 
I  am  exceedingly  happy,  cousin  Christie,  that  our  opinions 
agree  upon  this  subject,  for  I  prize  purity  of  thought  and  purpose 
above  all  other  gifts." 

"These  sentiments  do  you  honor." 

"  Yes.  Although  I  have  worldly  expectations  something  more 
than  moderate,  in  prospective  wealth  to  be  derived  from  my  father, 
still  that  is  the  least  of  the  attractions  which,  I  trust,  I  possess.  I 
speak  to  you  thus  frankly,  Christie,  because  I  have  felt  for  you  the 

affection  of  a  sister " 

"  For  the  last  twelve  months  V 
"  What  do  you  mean  ?" 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  167 

"'"That  your  conduct  towards  me  before  that  time  savored  more 
of  contempt  then  affection." 

"Ah,  Christie,  believe  me,  it  was  the  bearing  of  a  petted,  way 
ward  child,  who  took  that  way  of  showing  her  regard." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  because  appearances  pointed  in  another 
direction,  cousin  Ellen." 

"  Thank  you,  Christie,  for  your  generous  confidence  in  my  pro 
testations." 

"And  you  have  always  entertained  for  me  sentiments  of  the 
kindest  regard  ?" 

"Always;  how  can  you  ask  the  question  ?"  she  said,  fixing  her 
large,  brilliant  eyes  upon  him  for  a  moment,  with  something  very 
like  brazen  effrontery,  and  then  they  melted  into  a  look  of  love  and 
devotion. 

There  could  be  no  mistaking  their  appeal.  But  Christie  gener 
ously  resolved  not  to  unmask  her.  Voices  were  now  heard  in  the 
yard  in  loud  conversation.  They  both  recognized  the  imperious 
tone  of  Lord  Melville.  Christie  started  to  his  feet. 

"  Do  not  go  out ;  you  must  not,  indeed  you  must  not,"  said  Ellen, 
with  passionate  earnestness. 

Before  he  could  release  himself,  Melville  stalked  into  the  hall. 

"You  thought  to  escape  me,  did  you,  fool  that  you  are.  Why, 
Satan  may  as  well  attempt  to  fly  from  damnation." 

"  What  want  you  here,  my  lord  T' 

"  Your  body — aye,  your  body." 

"  You  have  no 'claim  upon  me." 

"Have  I  not?  Did  not  yourself  and  mother  become  security 
for  a  neighbor,  Richard  Burnham,  some  fourteen  months  ago  ?" 

"  Yes." 
[\  "  Has  the  debt  been  paid  ?" 

"I  do  not  know." 

"  Well,  I  do.  It  has  not ;  I  have  purchased  it,  and  am  your 
creditor  again,  aye,  and  of  that  old  woman  who  dared  to  threaten 
my  mother  a  few  weeks  ago." 

"  I  did  not  threaten  her  without  a  cause,  braggart.  Beware,  sir  !" 
replied  Mrs.  Kane,  fiercely. 

"  Fool  !  fool  !  to  think  of  aweing  me  thus." 

"  Scoundrel !  dare  you  use  such  language  to  my  mother,"  ex 
claimed  Christie  Kane,  as  he  violently  seized  Melville  by  the  throat, 
and  shook  him  until  he  was  black  in  the  face. 

The  officers  rescued  the  nobleman  from  the  grasp  of  his  assail 
ant,  when  he  staggered  to  a  seat. 

"  Won't  you  suffer  for  this  ?" 

"  Doubtless  ;  but  not  longer  than  you  will  remember  it." 

"  Officer,  arrest  both  those  persons." 

They  were  both  seized. 

"  And  now  I  have  a  word  to  say  about  you,  my  fair  but  treach 
erous  dame,"  he  said,  addressing  Ellen  Knowles. 

"  For  God's  sake  !   spare  me,"  she  said,  imploringly. 

"  Did  you  spare  my  great  aunt  ?" 

"  Oh,  forget  that— forget  that." 


lfi8  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"What  do   you   mean  by   such   conduct,  Ellen  ?"   asked  Mrs 
Kane. 

"  She  is  afraid  I  will  tell  --  " 
'  Don't,  for  mercy's  sake,  don't  tell  it." 

"  How  urgently  she  requested  me  to  cast  her  affectionate  cousin, 
Mr.  Christie  Kane,  into  prison." 

Ellen  staggered  to  a  chair. 

"It's  a  lie  —  a  base,  malicious  lie,"  she  screamed. 

No,  Ellen,  your  conduct  is  evidence  of  its  truth,"  said  Christie 
calmly. 

"  And  you  believe  the  accusation  ?" 

"I  do." 

"  Ah  !  ha  !  my  young  lass,  your  hopes  are  destroyed,  and  by  me, 
by  me,  Lord  Melville  !" 

"  Lord  Melville  no  longer  /"  said  Mrs.  Kane,  in  a  deep,  hollow 


All  eyes  were  turned  upon  her.  They  were  appalled  by  the 
ghastly  paleness  of  her  countenance,  and  the  diabolical  exression 
which  was  stamped  upon  every  lineament  of  her  face. 

"  What  do  you   mean,  woman  ?"  said   Melville,  wi 


expresson 
with  a  look  of 


awe. 

"  1  mean  —  " 

''Don't,  aunty  ;  there  may  yet  be  hope,"  said  Ellen  imploringly. 

Mrs.  Kane  paused  ;  she  was  evidently  deeply  troubled,  for 
there  was  a  gurgling  in  her  throat  that  sounded  like  the  death- 
rattle.  The  spectators  were  motionless,  as  they  observed  her 
working  countenance.  At  length,  with  a  violent  effort,  she  spoke. 
'  No,  Ellen,  there  is  no  hope.  Our  expectations  have  been  de 
stroyed  by  this  brute.  He  has  availed  himself  of  his  position,  not 
only  to  thwart  the  hope  that  I  have  cherished  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  but  he  has  been  guilty  of  the  most  fiendish  cruelty  to  one 
who  has  always  treated  me  with  kindness,  notwithstanding  my  ne 
glect  and  abuse." 

"  What  does  all  this  mean,  old  woman  ?"  exclaimed  Melville,  who 
had  rallied  from  the  stupor  into  which  he  had  been  thrown  by  her 
language  and  manner. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  it  means,"  she  cried  fiercely.  "  It  means  that 
you  are  not  Lord  Melville  !  It  means  that  you  are  my  son  !  It 
means  that  Christie  Kane  is  Lord  Melville,  the  son  of  the  Duchess 
of  ^Sunderlarid,  and  the  heir  to  a  dukedom  !" 

The  bystanders  heard  the  annunciation  with  amazement.  The 
officers  released  their  hold  upon  Christie  Kane  as  though  the  infor 
mation  had  invested  his  person  with  a  sanctity  not  hitherto  pos 
sessed.  Melville  sank  back  in  his  chair.  His  jaw  dropped,  and 
his  face  was  as  pale  as  if  stamped  by  the  ineffaceable  characters 
of  death. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  have  spoken  the  truth,"  said  Mrs.  Kane,  address 
ing  the  officers.  "  It  shall  all  be  explained  before  the  proper  tri 
bunal,  but  I  will  remark  here  that  a  friend  of  mine  was  wet-nurse 
to  that  young  man,"  pointing  to  Christie  Kane,  "  who  was  of  the 
same  age  as  my  own  son,"  and  she  nodded  to  Lord  Melville.  "  The 
infants  were  exchanged.  The  Duchess  was  not  the  wiser,  for  she 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  169 

never  visited  the  nursery.  My  object  was  to  procure  a  marriage 
between  Ellen  Knowles  and  the  heir  of  a  dukedom  ;  unless  my 
son  proved  to  be  a  man  who  would  adorn  the  position  which  he  oc'- 
cnpied.  In  that  case,  I  resolved  to  let  the  secret  die  with  me. 
But  I  learned  at  an  early  day,  that  he  would  disgrace  the  rank  into 
which  he  had  been  foisted,  by  his  unsufferable  bearing  and  inhuman 
conduct.  I  then  resolved  to  carry  out  my  original  scheme.  But 
my  designs  have  been  thwarted  ;  thwarted,  too,  by  the  agency  of 
my  own  son  ;  and  it  is,  therefore,  without  one  throb  of  pity  that  I 
consign  him  to  the  position  for  which  he  was  destined  by  na 
ture." 

"  What  proof  have  you  of  your  assertion,  bold,  bad  woman?'' 
said  Melville,  who  rallied  again. 

"  Proof  that  is  overwhelmingly  conclusive.  The  evidence  of 
the  wet  nurse,  who  is  still  living,  and  of  the  attending  physician." 
"As  for  the  wet-nurse  1  fancy  her  testimony  will  be  considered 
of  little  value,  having  been,  as  you  admit,  a  party  to  the  crime. 
And  as  for  the  physician,  it  would  be  a  difficult  thing  for  him  to 
swear  that  in  the  robust  form  of  yonder  boor  could  be  traced  the 
features  of  the  babe  of  twenty-two  years  ago.  Bah  !  you  must 
exercise  your  ingenuity  with  greater  skill  to  manufacture  a  respect 
able  falsehood." 

"  Christie  Kane,  have  you  a  mole  upon  your  arm  half  the  size  of 
a  blackberry  ?"  asked  Mis.  Kane. 
"I  have." 

"  Will  you  let  us  see  it?'' 
"  Certainly." 

He  removed  his  coat,  and  rolling  up  his  sleeve  disclosed  a  mark 
upon  the  arm  near  the  shoulder,  resembling  the  half  of  a  black 
berry. 

"  That  mark  will  explain  all,  for  it  was  commented  upon  at  the 
hour  of  his  birth  by  the  physician,  the  monthly  nurse,  and  the  Duke 
of  Sunderland  himself;  What  say  you  now,  sirrah  ?" 

Melville  rose  from  his  seat  pale  as  a  corpse,  and  left  the  house. 

"  I  always  thought  he  was  a  flunkey,"  said  one  of  the  officers. 

"  leas,  it  vver  always  apperent  he  didn't  belong  to  our  class,  he 
was  so  demned  vulgwar,"  replied  the  other,  as  he  indulged  in  the 
refined  habit  of  picking  his  nose. 

''  Gentlemen,  you  may  withdraw,"  said  Mrs.  Kane,  pointing  to 
the  door. 

I  spose  we  may,"  said  the  officer  hesitatingly. 
'  Go  !"  said  Christie  sternly. 

"  Certainly,  my  lord,  if  you  desire  it,"  said  the  officer  obse 
quiously. 

"  Your  lord!  does  desire  it,"  said  the  young  man  contemptuous 
ly,  accenting  the  word. 

''And  now,"  said  Christie,  taking  Mrs.  Kane  by  the  hand,  and 
conducting  her  to  the  sofa,  "  all  I  require  of  you,  as  a  slight  return 
tor  the  years  of  wrong  you  have  made  me  suffer,  is  to  keep  secret 
lor  ten  days  the  knowledge  of  my  birth."  ' 

*'  I  will,"  replied  Mrs.  Kane. 

"  I  thank  you  ;  and    now  let  me   assure  you  that  for  the  many 


170  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

acts  of  kindness  I  have  received  at  your  hands,  I  shall  always  be 
grateful,  and  it  shall  be  manifested  in  a  more  substantial  manner 
than  by  wo^ds,  merely." 

Christie  Kane  retired  to  his  chamber,  and  reflected  long  upon 
the  intelligence  he  had  received.  Could  it  be  possible  that  he,  the 
humble  farmer,  was  heir  to  the  wide  domains  of  the  Duke  of  Sun 
der  and  ?  Was  the  haughty  Duchess  his  mother  ?  Was  that  proud 

uke  his  father  ?  How  would  they  receive  the  intelligence  ?  All 
these  questions  forced  themselves  upon  him,  until  his  brain  whirled 
with  excitement.  It  was  stepping  into  a  new  world.  To  leave 
the  humble  dwelling  where  he  thought  he  was  born,  for  the  castle 
of  Mornlow,  and  the  splendid  residence  in  town.  To  control  the 
destinies  of  men,  instead  of  having  his  controlled  by  them.  To  be 
elevated  to  the  level  of  that  class  he  had  so  often  and  so  freely  de 
nounced.  It  is  not  strange  that  to  have  his  existence  thus  changed 
should  produce  a  state  of  strong  and  irrepressible  excitement.  And 
what  were  his  plans  for  the  future?  He  could  not  arrange  them  in 
that  moment  of  agitation,  but  one  important  step  he  resolved  to 
take  at  once,  and  that  was,  to  solicit  the  hand  of  Katharine  Mon 
tague  in  marriage.  It  was  a  bold  step,  and  one  which,  if  it  failed, 
would  cause  him  much  unhappiness.  A  less  scrupulous  lover 
would  have  waited  until  his  suit  was  sustained  by  the  powerful 
auxiliary  of  rank.  Not  so  Christie  Kane.  He  could  not  accept 
as  the  noble  what  would  be  denied  as  a  man.  There  was  some 
thing  in  the  bearing  of  the  maiden  which  bade  him  hope,  notwith 
standing  the  hereditary  pride  of  the  family.  But  did  he  not  hope 
rashly,  to  suppose  the  daughter  of  that  illustrious  house  could  stoop 
from  her  lofty  position  and  ally  herself  with  a  peasant  ?  He  re 
solved  to  incur  the  risk,  and  as  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  he 
started  at  once  for  the  castle  of  Montague.  Arriving  there,  he  in 
formed  the  liveried  waiting-man  that  he  came  to  inquire  of  Lady 
Katharine  Montague's  health.  • 

The  servant,  less  mannerly  than  most  of  the  Earl's  retainers, 
gave  him  a  supercilious  glance  that  measured  his  dimensions  from 
head  to  foot. 

"  Do  you  hear  me.  sirrah  ?" 

"  Yeas,  but  I  doubt  if  her  ladyship  will  feel  herself  honored  by 
inquiries  from  such  as  you." 

"Insolence  !" 

"Ah!  Maister  Christie,  it's  mesell  is  glad  to  say  yez.  Come 
in.  Her  ladyship  left  orders  for  yez  to  be  admitted,  if  yez 
called." 

With  a  throbbing  heart,  Christie  Kane  followed  Phelim  Savor 
into  the  drawing  room. 

"Mr.  Christie  Kane,"  he  announced  at  the  door. 

Katharine  Montague  was  seated  upon  a  luxurious  sofa  near  the 
fire.  She  arose  as  lie  entered. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Kane.  You  have  delayed  a  long 
time,  before  calling  to  ascertain  whether  my  health  suffered  from 
that  night  of  exposure."" 

He  thought  her  voice  trembled  as  she  spoke,  and  he  knew  the 
color  deepened  upon  her  cheek. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  171 

"  If  I  had  supposed  iny  absence  would  be  noted,  I  certainly 
should  have  paid  my  respects  earlier,"  he  replied,  as  he  pressed  the 
hand  she  had  extended  towards  him. 

"  Pray  take  a  seat ;"  and  she  made  room  for  him  beside  her,  by 
removing  the  piece  of  embroidery  that  Jay  upon  the  sofa.  "  So 
you  see  you  are  of  more  consideration  than  you  thought." 

"  And  the  assurance  makes  me  the  happiest  of  men,"  he 
responded  warmly. 

"  As  happy  as  if  it  came  from  your  fair  cousin  Ellen  ?"  she 
said  archly. 

"Far  more  so — oh,  indeed  far  more  so.  If  you  only  knew,  Lady 
Katharine,"  he  continued  impetuously,  "  how  often  my  mind  has 
dwelt  upon  your  person,  since  the  first  hour  I  saw  you  beneath  the 
oak ;  with  what  fondness  memory  has  lingered  upon  the  few  words 
of  interest  that  have  fallen  from  your  lips  ;  with  what  anguish  I 
have  heard  the  slighting  taunt,  and  witnessed  the  look  of  contempt, 
you  would  partly  comprehend  the  absorbing,  overwhelming  love 
with  which  you  have  inspired  me." 

"Mr.  Kane!"  she  exclaimed,  starting  up;  but  meeting  an 
appealing  glance  from  his  eloquent  eyes,  she  sank  upon  the  otto 
man  again. 

"  I  know  the  distance  which  separates  us,  for  it  has  often  appal 
led  me.  -  I  have  tried  to  control  my  affections — with  what  intensity 
nights  of  silent  anguish  could  prove.  It  was  unavailing;  and 
now,  impelled  by  a  resistless  impulse,  I  came  to  lay  my  affections 
at  your  feet.  I  pledge  to  you  tiie  pure  and  unalterable  affections 
of  a  man  who  would  not,  if  he  could,  boast  of  higher  rank  than 
that  to  which  every  man  of  honor  may  claim.  Reject  me — tram 
ple  upon  the  sacred  impulses  of  that  heart  which  beats  only  for 
you,  and  it  will  still,  like  the  bruised  flower,  yield  its  purest  offer 
ing  to  thee." 

"  Mr.  Kane,  I  may  not  listen  to  you,"  she  said — while  the 
hand  he  had  taken,  trembled,  but  was  not  withdrawn.  "  I  appre 
ciate  the  offer  you  have  made  me.  I  will  even  confess  it  has 
gratified  my  feelings  ;  but  I  cannot — nay,  I  must  not  accept  it." 

"  And  I  am  rejected  because  I  am  a  peasant  ?"  he  said,  as  he 
rose  to  his  feet. 

"  No,  no— I— I— yes ;  I  will  frankly  tell  you,  that  if  my  feel 
ings  were  permitted  to  decide,  I  might—  that  is— oh  !  what  shall  I 
say  ]» 

"  lou  Jove  me,  then — say,  dearest  Lady  Katharine,  that  you 
love  me,"  said  Christie,  as  he  encircled  her  waist  with  his  arm,  and 
pressed  his  lips  to  her  own,  in  a  long,  lingering  kiss,  while  her 
head  rested  upon  his  shoulder,  during  a  moment  of  fond  abandon 
ment. 

"  This  interview  must  end.  You  have  no  right  to  wring  my 
heart  with  anguish,"  said  the  maiden,  as  she  released  herself  from 
his  arms. 

"And  I  am  hopelessly  rejected  ?  It  is  well ;  I  have  been  justly 
punished,  for  daring  to  hope  that  a  parvenue  might  ally  himself  to 
the  daughter  of  an  illustrious  house," 


172  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  Do  not  let  us  part  in  anger.  But  for  the  prejudices  of  caste, 
I  might  perhaps,  reward  your  devotion.  I  cannot  say  more." 

uAnd  you,  Lady  Katharine  Montague,  with  your  brilliant  intel 
lect  and  just  contempt  for  the  hollow  distinctions  of  society,  still 
yield  to  its  prejudices.  Then  farewell,  forever  ;  your  affection  is  not 
worth  the  seeking." 

"Go,  sir,"  she  replied  indignantly,  as  she  pointed  to  the  door. 
"  You  do  not  know  what  is  due  to  a  lady  of  rank." 

With  a  low  bow,  he  withdrew. 

"  Thus  ends  my  boastful  opinion  of  the  power  of  love.  Wealth 
and  rank  are  henceforth  nothing  to  me  but  instruments  with  which 
to  relieve  that  class  of  society,  in  whose  cause  my  feelings  will 
always  be  interested,"  muttered  Christie  Kane,  as  he  turned  his 
back  upon  the  castle  of  Montague.  As  he  emerged  into  the  high 
way,  he  met  Phelim  Savor. 

"  Phelim,  you  expressed  an  anxious  desire  to  return  to  my  ser 
vice  a  short  time  since  "?" 

"  Yez." 

"  Are  you  still  desirous  of  doing  so?" 

"  Yez  may  well  say  that  same,  Maister  Christie  Lady  Katha 
rine  is  an  illegant  and  well-spoken  lady,  and  I'm  grateful  for  her 
kindness,  but  I  love  no  one  as  well  as  yersel',  Maister  Christie. 
Indade  1  do  not,"  he  said  earnestly. 

"  Well,  in  a  week  I  will  take  you  into  my  service  again." 

"  I'm  thankful  to  yez.  I've  no  objection  to  the  Montague  living, 
or  to  any  other,  bekaze  we  are  "servants,  and  it's  an  honorable 
badge  of  servitude.  Yez  say,  I'm  not  like  to  some  poor  divils,  who 
perform  the  work  of  servants,  but  object  to  wearing  the  emblim. 
Now  that's  what  I  calls  a  carrying  two  faces  under  one  hat — a 
most  riprehinsible  prosading." 

"  Very  well,  Phelim,  call  at  Mornlow  Castle  in  a  week,  and 
inquire  for  me." 

"  Yez.     At  Mornlow  Castle,"  repeated  Phelim,  wonderingly. 

The  duchess  was  seated  in  an  elegant  arm-chair.  Breakfast  was 
over,  and  she  was  yawning  through  the  London  daily  papers ; 
because  she  thought  the  wife  of  a  duke  ought,  at  least,  to  have  a 
superficial  knowledge  of  passing  events — at  least  of  all  the  mur 
ders  and  other  heinous  offences  ;  which  her  grace  loved  to  dwell 
upon,  as  they  exemplified  the  rascalities  of  the  substratum.  She 
had  gone  through  the  intellectual  column  headed  "  Crimes  and  Cas 
ualties,"  when  Katharine  Montague  was  announced. 

"  My  dear  Kate,  I  have  been  dying  to  see  you  ;  indeed,  my 
anxiety  had  risen  to  such  a  height,  that  but  for  the  damp  atmos 
phere,  I  should  have  gone  over  to  the  castle.  Do  tell  me  all  about 
your  escape.  Were  you  not  shocked  at  having  the  vulgar  arm  of 
that  plebeian  around  you  1  Any  one  can  tell  he  is  a  fellow  of  low 
blood  by  his  features.  How  different  from  the  aristocratic  linea 
ments  of  Lord  Melville  ;  upon  every  feature  of  which  is  stamped 
the  evidence  of  noble  birth.  It  is  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world, 
Kate,  to  point  out  the  cream  of  our  aristocracy.  No  one  could 
doubt  for  a  moment  that  Melville  belongs  to  that  exclusive  class." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  173 

"  I  presume  even  your  grace  would  have  thought  little  of  vulgar 
arms,  at  such  a  moment,"  said  Katharine,  with  a  smile. 

"Oh!  my  dear  Kate,  you  can't  comprehend  fthe  unutterable 
loathing  with  which  I  regard  the  horrid  creatures.  I  really  believe 
I  should  rather  die,  if  it  was  not  for  having  the  nasty  water  in  my 
eyes  and  nose.  Water,  too,  that  is  mixed  with  dirt  ;  faugh  !" 

"  And  then  to  be  covered  up  with  dirt  after  your  death." 

"  No,  Kate,  no  ;  nothing  but  the  purest  Italian  marble,  carved 
at  dear  delightful  Florence,  will  hold  the  remains  of  Adelaide, 
Duchess  of  Sunderland." 

"  One  looks  so  disagreeable  after  being  drowned,"  remarked 
Katharine  Montague,  gravely. 

"  Yes  ;  I  do  not  know,  upon  reflection,  but  I  should  have  pre 
ferred  a  rescue  by  even  such  a  low  bred  fellow  as — as — what  is 
his  name]" 

"  Kane,  Christie  Kane,"  replied  the  maiden,  with  a  blush. 

"  The  one  who  had  the  impertinence  to  contend  with  my  son  for 
the  prize  at  the  steeple-chase  !" 

"  And  had  the  audacity  to  win  it,"  replied  Katharine,  as  her 
eyes  flashed. 

"May  I  ask  your  Grace  what  is  the  news  in  London." 

"  Her  Majesty  has  returned  from  the  Highlands." 

"  Then  we  shall  soon  depart  for  London." 

"  We  go  the  beginning  of  next  week." 

"  Who  are  to  be  the  lions  of  the  season  ?" 

"  A  charming  negro  girl  from  the  United  States  will  be  one  of 
them." 

"A  negro  girl !  your  Grace  is  merry." 

"  Not  at  all.  We  have  found  it  necessary  to  elevate  the  negro 
standard,  in  order  to  accomplish  our  designs  upon  American  Sla 
very.  With  all  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  negro,  the  trans 
atlantic  abolitionists  do  not  regard  him  as  their  equal,  and  it  is  true, 
as  Charles  Dickens  says  in  his  '  household  words,'  that  the  slaves 
are  prevented  from  escaping  in  greater  numbers,  because  their 
condition,  when  free,  in  the  Northern  States,  is  more  degrading 
than  in  a  state  of  bondage." 

"  And  you.  the  celebrated  and  accomplished  Duchess  of  Sun 
derland,  the  favorite  of  her  Majesty,  intend  to  patronize  a  negress !" 

"  Of  course  I  do.  All  thai  is  necessary  to  elevate  the  negroes 
in  the  United  States,  is  to  patronize  them  here.  Once  let  the 
Americans  see  the  English  nobility  and  the  London  aristocracy 
patronizing  a  negro  wench,  and  believe  me,  two  months  will  not 
elapse  before  those  servile  imitators  will  conceive  a  wonderful 
respect  for  their  sable  brethren." 

"And  has  she  no  claims  upon  your  attention  except  her  color?" 

"  Yes,  she  sings  well,  and  that  is  the  reason  we  assign  for  man 
ifesting  so  much  interest  in  her.  The  effect,  however,  will  be  the 
same  in  the  United  States." 

"  What  is  the  cause  of  the  intense  interest  which  you  take  in 
the  affairs  of  the  great  republic  ?" 

4iTo  witness  its  overthrow,  and  thus  destroy  the  fruitful  cause 
of  rebellion  and  anarchy  in  Europe.". 


1*4  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  I  supposed  it  could  not  be  traced  to  charitable  impulses,  for 
there  are  objects  enough  in  Great  Britain  to  awaken  its  slumbering 
energies." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  my  dear  Kate,  and  the  only  apprehension  we 
have  is  that  the  American  abolitionists,  stupid  creatures,  will  dis 
cover  it.'1 

Voices  were  now  heard  in  loud  altercation  at  the  door. 

"  I  tell  you  I  will  see  her.'1 

"  Indeed  vou  cannot,  1  have  received  positive  orders  to  exclude 
you." 

A  sound  that  resembled  very  much  a  boxed  ear,  was  succeeded 
by  the  noise  of  a  body  falling  upon  the  floor,  and  the  next  moment 
the  exquisitely  dressed  body  servant  of  the  Duchess  of  Sunderland 
rushed  into  the  room,  with  the  blood  streaming  from  his  nose. 
Close  upon  his  footsteps  strode  the  tall  figure  of  Mrs.  Kane. 

"  Here  is  that  horrid  creature  again,  and  I'll  be  blessed  if  she 
has  not  hurt  Frederick  Augustus." 

"  Yes,  and  I'll  hurt  your  feelings,  if  I  do  not  you  body,  before 
I  leave  this  room." 

"  Frederic  Augustus,  call  the  porter,  this  woman's  presence  is 
disagreeable." 

"  Stay  ;  I  have  but  a  brief  explanation  to  make.  Adelaide, 
Duchess  of  Sunderland,  you  must  hear  it." 

The  solemnity  of  her  manner  awed  the  Duchess. 

"  Two  months  ago,  I — /,  Margaret  Kane,  prostrated  myself  at 
your  feet ;  I  implored  you  to  save  me  from  want,  and  suffering. 
You  spurned  me  from  your  presence !  You  !  Aye,  you,  who 
thought  yourself  beyond  the  reach  of  unhappiness  ;  you,  who  are 
bending  all  the  energies  of  your  feeble,  intellect  to  bring  revolution, 
wretchedness  and  woe  upon  a  people  who  have  committed  no  other 
crime  but  to  save  and  protect  English  subjects,  whom  English 
philanthropy  surrenders  to  the  tender  mercies  of  starvation.  I  told 
you  then,  that  I  would  humble  your  pride,  and  I'll  do  it  even  at 
the  hazard  of  ruin  to  myself.  Duchess  of  Sunderland  !  you  have 
a  son  whom  you  idolize,  notwithstanding  his  faults  ?" 

"  I  have,  I  have;  what  danger  threatens  him'?"  exclaimed  the 
Duchess,  in  an  agony  of  apprehension. 

"  Upon  whom  rests  the  hopes  of  your  house  T' 

"Woman,  why  do  you  harrow  my  feelings?  Tell 'me,  Oh! 
tell  me,  Melville  is  not  dead,  and  I  will  grant  all  you  ask."  And 
the  proud  woman  clasped  her  hands  in  mortal  fear. 

"Ah!  ha!  you  love  him  then  ?  Now^will  I  wring  your  heart 
strings,  as  you  have  wrung  mine." 
.    "My  God,  Kate,  what  does  the  woman  mean?" 
t  ,  "  That  Lord  Charles  Melville  is  not  your  son  !" 

The  Duchess  sprang  to  her  feet.  Her  limbs  were  rigid,  the 
blood  receded  from  her  cheeks,  and  her  lips  were  drawn  back  from 
her  teeth. 

"  Now  the  iron  enters  your  soul.  Pla  !  ha  !  ha  !  Now,  woman, 
you  are  mortal  !  He  is  not  your  son !  He  is  mine,  the  son  of 
the  poor  thing  whose  prayers  you  scorned  ;  and  your  son,  your 
son  is — is — the  poor  despised  plebeian,  Christie  Kane  .'v 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  175 

"  Christie  Kane  ?"  said  you  Christie  Kane  ?"  demanded  Katha 
rine,  eagerly. 

"  I  did,  but  that  annunciation  carries  with  it  woe  to  you,  also, 
imperious  maiden.  You  rejected  the  offer  of  Christie  Kane;  do 
not  flatter  yourself  that  they  will  be  renewed  by  Charles,  Lord 
Melville."  " 

Scowling  upon  her  victims,  the  savage  woman  stalked  from  the 
room. 

With  a  low  moan  the  Duchess  sank  upon  the  floor. 

He  who  supposes  that  unalloyed  happiness  finds  a  resting  place 
in  the  abode  of  rank  and  wealth,  has  never  witnessed  the  splendid 
misery  that  interposes  itself  as  remorselessly  between  the  favored 
classes  and  uninterrupted  felicity,  as  between  the  humble  laborer 
and  domestic  bliss. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"  The  constitution  of  this  country  has  always   been  in  a  moving  state, 
either  gaining  or  losing  something."— LORD   MANSFIELD. 

THE  truth  of  Mrs.  Kane's  assertion  was  verified  by  the  family 
physician  and  the  Duke  of  Sutherland.  From  that  hour  nothing 
was  seen  or  heard  of  Mrs.  Kane's  son.  It  was  supposed  his  pride 
could  not  brook  the  taunts  he  would  be  subjected  to  from  those 
whose  ill-will  had  been  aroused  by  insufferable  insolence,  and  that 
he  had  left  the  kingdom  ;  but  whither  he  had  fled  no  one  could  con 
jecture.  Christie  Kane,  or  Lord  Melville,  as  he  will  now  be  desig 
nated,  took  up  his  abode  at  Mornlow  Castle.  He  was  graciously 
received  by  the  Duke,  and  the  Duchess  confessed  to  Katharine 
Montague  that  his  face,  now  that  she  minutely  examined  it,  had 
an  aristocratic,  rather  than  a  plebeian  cast.  Indeed  she  thoughc  it 
blended  the  features  of  the  Duke  and  herself;  an  expression  of 
opinion  which  was  intended  to  be  highly  complimentary  to  the 
young  man.  Lady  Katharine  suggested  that  her  grace  might  not 
hesitate  to  be  saved  from  a  watery  grave  by  his  "  vulgar  arm." 
The  Duchess  shook  her  head  reprovingly  as  though  she  suspected 
there  was  a  little  bit  of  malice  in  the  allusion. 

"If  you  do  not  feel  such  an  aversion  for  him  as  you  did  for 
Charles— poor  boy,  I  love  him  yet— I  should  still  cherish  the  hope 
that  our  houses  might  be  united  by  a  marriage  between  you." 

Lady  Katharine's  face  was  crimsoiffed  in  a  moment. 

Lord  Melville  did  not  exhibit  any  decided  marks  of  affection 
for  his  parents.  The  character  of  neither  were  to  his  liking. 
They  were  too  selfish,  too  fond  of  notoriety.  Besides,  that  want 
of  care  during  his  infancy  which  courted  his  unhappy  fate,  was  not 
calculated  to  awaken  any  lively  manifestation  of  filial  attachment. 
To  both  his  bearing  was  respectful  and  courteous  ;  nothing  more. 
It  was  soon  apparent  to  the  Duke  that  his  son  was  quite  as  deter 
mined  in  carrying  out  his  purposes  as  the  real  Christie  Kane, 
though  the  efforts  of  the  former  were  mainly  directed  to  ameliorating 


176  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

the  condition  of  his  tenants,  instead  of  tormenting  them.    His  quiet 
energy  and  scrupulous  justice  soon  made  itself  felt,  and  the  Duke 
surrendered  the  management  of  his  estate  almost  entirely  to  him. 
Its  vast  concerns  took  him  from  the  castle  nearly  all  day,  and   he 
returned  at  night  with  the  consciousness  of  having  performed 
dutv.     In   two  days  the  establishment  would   hreak  up,  and  1 
family  would  return  to  town  ;   still  Melville  had  not  called  at  the 
Castle  of  Montague.    So  carefully  had  he  avoided  the  usual  haunts 
of  Katharine,  that  he  had  not  even  seen  her  since  the  fatal 
sion   that  witnessed  the  destruction  of  his  hopes.     The  day  pre 
cedincr  their  departure,  Lord  Rossmore  and  his  family  were  to  di 
at  Mornlow.     For  the  first  time  Katharine  was  to  meet  her  lover 
as  Lord   Melville.     As  she  stood  before  the  mirror  she  examine 
her  face  and  figure  with  a  judgment  more  than  usually  critical. 
thought  the  mercury  gave  backjan  image  of  unsurpassed  loveli 

She  was  examining  the  paintings  and  statuary  in  the  gallery  at 
Mornlow  Castle  when  she  heard  footsteps  approaching.    Her  jc 
was  concealed  by  a  marble  figure,  and  without  being  observed  she 
saw  Lord  Melville  enter  the  gallery.     A  melancholy  expression 
was  stamped  upon  his  features,  and  he  examined  the  family  por 
traits  with  a  listless  air.     At  length  his  attention  was  arrested  by 
the  portrait  of  his  great-grandfather,  the  founder  of  his  house,    ll 
artist  had  succeeded   in  delineating  the  stern  and  energetic  li 
ments  of  the  first  Duke  of  Sunderland,  who,  scorning  the  hun 
avocation  of  a  shoemaker,  had  abandoned  it  for  the  more  congf 
occupation  of  a  soldier.  _ 

"  There  was  a  man,"  soliloquised  Melville,  "  worth  half  the  elf 
minate  nobility  of  the  present  day.     A  man  whose  vigorous  mte 
lect  and  determined  courage  made  him  the  artificer  of  his  own 
fortune.     And  his  descendants,  the  further  they  are  removed 
him,  will  boast  more  and  more  extravagantly  of  along  line  ot 
trious  ancestors,   all,  all   sprung  from  a  highly  respectable  s 
maker  !     Rank  !  what  art  thou  worth  T  and  he  laughed  bitterly. 

Katharine  wished  to  escape  unobserved  from  the  gallery,  bu 
could  not. 

He  paused  before  the  portrait  of  his  grandfather. 
"  And  this  man,  who.  but  for  the  resolute  daring  of  his  lather, 
would  have  been  a  shoemaker,  as  well  as  the  son  of  a  shoemaker, 
could   not  so   far  degrade  himself  as  to  marry   the   accomplished 
daughter  of  a  baronet,  whose  affections  he  had  won,  notwithstand 
ing  he  saw  her  sinking  into  the  grave   broken-hearted, 
what  art  thou  worth  T  and  again  the  bitter  laugh  rang  through  1 
gallery. 

A  cold  sweat  gathered  upon  the  forehead  of  the  maiden. 
"Ah!  here  is  a  noble,  true-hearted  Englishman;  my  great-un 
cle,  Sir   Marmaduke  Drakeman,  whose   fascinating   manners  and 
splendid  person  made  him  a  universal  favorite.     But  he  would  not, 
no,  he  would   not  marry  the  haughty   damsel    who  had  rejected 
his  hand  before  he  was  knighted  !     Old  fellow,  you  possess  that 
true  pride  which  is  worthy  of  admiration,  and  I  honor  you  for  it, 
and  he  affectionately  tapped  the  cheek  of  the  baronet  with  the  \ 
head  of  his  cane. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  177 

Turning  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  gallery,  he  beheld  the  form 
of  Katharine  Montague.  She  resembled,  in  the  paleness  of  her 
complexion  and  the  rigidity  of  her  form,  one  of  the  statues  by 
which  she  was  surrounded.  Raising  his  hat  he  bowed  profoundly 
and  withdrew  without  uttering  a  word.  As  they  were  seated  at 
the  dining-table,  the  chairs  were  all  occupied  but  one.  Melville 
did  not  return  to  Mornlow  until  the  Earl  of  Rossmore  and  his  party 
had  left  Montague  castle. 

The  following  day  both  Montague  and  Mornlow  castles  were  de 
serted  by  their  occupants,  with  the  exception  of  Melville,  who  re 
mained  at  Mornlow  for  several  weeks  to  protect  the  tenants  upon 
the  estate  as  much  as  possible  from  the  severity  of  winter.  He 
retained  only  the  housekeeper,  a  chambermaid,  and  Phelim  Savor. 
When  the  weather  would  permit,  he  rode  over  the  wide  domain  of 
the  Mornlow  estate,' accompanied  by  Phelim.  The  former  steward 
had  been  discharged,  and  one  with  a  moderate  amount  of  soul  was 
engaged.  When  the  weather  was  stormy,  Melville  caused  a  fire 
to  be^built  in  the  library,  where  thousands  of  books  were  piled  upon 
each  other,  covered  with  dust  almost  as  old  as  themselves.  He 
was  seated  there,  pouring  over  one  of  Gibbons'  pompous  and  re 
sounding  pages,  and  listening  to  the  pattering  rain,  when  Phelim 
Savor  entered  the  librar)'. 

"  If  yez  lordship  plazes.  Sir  William  Belthoven  is  in  the  draw 
ing-room,  and  says  he  would  like  to  see  yez." 

"  Sir  William  Belthoven,  the  politician"?" 

"  No,  yer  lordship,  the  number  of  Parliament." 

"  The  words  are  synonymous.1' 

"  I  know  that,  yer  lordship  ;  and  he  is  such  an  intilligent  gintle- 
man,  who  niver  carries  two  faces  under  one  hat.  He'Jl  tell  yer 
lordship  all  about  the  sacred  rights  of  the  fraymen.  Shall  I  tell 
Sir  Willhm  yer  will  coome  down  £" 

'•  Do  you  think  I  shall  be  entertained?" 

"  Be  intertained  is  if?  Why  the  bayronet  is  the  most  illigent 
spaker  in  all  this  part  of  England.  He  manages  to  plaze  ivery 
bodv,  and  that  shows  a  great  dale  of  ability,  don't  yez  think  it 
does  '<" 

'  Tact,  Phelim,  nothing  more." 

'Well,  of  koorse  that  means  the  same  thing," 

'  Conduct  Sir  William  Belthoven  hither." 

'Yez." 

'  Sir  William  Belthoven,  you  are  welcome  to  Mornlow." 

That  gentleman  responded  with  a  soft  and  winning  smile.  It 
was  charged  by  his  enemies,  that  Sir  William  had  triumphed  in  no 
less  than  eight  canvasses  by  the  assistance  of  that  smile.  In  fact, 
they  were  so  unkind  as  to  insist  upon  it,  that  that  smile,  his  low, 
confidential  tone,  deferential  manners,  and  unsurpassed  abilities  as  a 
listener,  had  been  the  foundatioji  of  his  popularity  with  his  con 
stituents.  His  most  unfaltering'  opponent,  Sir  Pertinax  McFlum- 
mux,  had  been  often  heard  to  declare  that  he  should  have  defeated 
Sir  William  three  times  out  of  the  five  canvasses  he  had  stood 
against  him  for  parliament,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  patience 
with  which  that  accomplished  politician  could  listen  to  everything 

9 


378  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

that  was  said  to  him*  He  had  been  known  to  sit  upon  a  rery  hard 
board  for  no  less  than  two  hours,  while  a  poor  voter  poured  a  mel 
ancholy  tale  of  suffering  into  his  ear,  which  found  an  appropriate 
response  in  the  long  and  sympathetic  countenance  of  Sir  William  ; 
a  correct  representation  of  which  said  countenance  would  have 
immortalized  Hogarth.  His  features  had  an  elasticity  which  any 
politician  might  envy,  for  upon  divers  occasions,  Sir  Pertinax  Me 
Flummox  had,  with  spiteful  eyes,  seen  him  mounted  upon  a  sharp 
rock,  wffich  Sir  Pertinax  had  no  doubt  was  hurting  him  considera 
bly,  while  he  listened  with  smiling  visage  to  the  dull  wit  of  a  horse- 
jockey,  who  was  known  to  possess  considerable  influence  with  the 
blacksmith  and  inn-keeper.  Sir  Pertinax  was  wont  to  exclaim — 

"  Damn  it  1  who  can  expect  to  triumph  in  a  canvass  against  an 
opponent  who  can  listen  to  everybody  and  everything." 

Sir  Petinax  McFlummux  was  right,  for  popularity  won  by  agood 
listener  will  maintain!  ts  power  when  principles  lose  their  hold 
upon  the  masses. 

"  I  am  fortunate  in  catching  you  at  home.  This  is  the  second 
time  I  have  called,  but  I  never  have  laid  eyes  upon  you  since  your 
splendid  success  as  a  horseman  against  the  supposed  heir  of  Sun- 
derlancl.  Having,  by  the  favor  of  the  Duke,  your  father,  been 
honored  with  a  seat  in  parliament  for  many  years,  I  deem  it  my 
duty,  as  it  certainly  is  my  pleasure,  to  cultivate  the  good  opinion, 
and  obey  the  wishes,  of  himself  and  son."  And  the  baronet  gave 
a  popularity-seeking  bow. 

Sir  William  made  the  same  speech  at  least  three  hundred  and 
sixty-five  times  a  year  to  at  least  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  dif 
ferent  individuals,  whose  position  ranged  from  the  Duke  of  Sunder- 
land,  the  most  ilkistrious  of  his  constituents,  to  the  humblest 
squire  ;  indeed,  he  had  been  heard  to  intimate  something  very  much 
like  it,  to  his  country  tailor  ;  for  Sir  William  had  two'  tailors,  one 
for  the  city  and  one  for  the  country,  in  the  same  way  that  Solomon 
Greasebeans  had  two  consciences,  one  for  American  slavery,  and 
the  other  for  English  serfdom. 

"You  honor  me  by  your  deference  to  our  house." 

"  It  is  only  a  just  compliment  to  those  upon  whom  rests  tiie  dig 
nity  and  power  of  England.  For  what  are  the  opinions  of  the 
scum  of  the  earth,  who  delve  in  its  bosom,  worth,  compared  to  the 
wishes  of  our  aristocracy  ?" 

"  A  compliment  I  must  place  to  the  credit  of  Lord  Melville,  at 
the  expense  of  Christie  Kane,"  said  the  young  man  sarcastically. 

"  Oh  no,"  said  the  baronet,  with  an  unmoved  countenance  ;  "  any 
one  could  have  seen  upon  the  occasion  of  your  triumph  at  the 
steeple-chase,  that  in  your  veins  flowed  the  blood  of  the  gentry,  if 
not  of  the  noble." 

,.  "  It  is  strange  that  no  one  ever  intimated  as  much  to  me." 
^  "  Pardon  me,  no.  It  would  have  been  an  unauthorized  interfer 
ence  in  your  affairs.  But  pray,  are  you  much  of  a  student  since 
your  restoration,  if  I  may  so  term  it ;  for  I  presume  in  your  more 
humble  sphere  you  had  not  much  time  to  devote  to  literature  T' 
said  the  baronet,  anxious  to  change  a  subject  which  was  becoming 
disagreeable,  notwithstanding  his  tact. 


AND  AMERICAN7  SLAVERY.  179 

"  I  managed  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  standard  works,  historical 
as  well  as  fictitious." 

"And  what  do  you  think  of  the  writers  of  the  nineteenth  cen 
tury,  for  we  have  a  double  interest  in  our  own  times  ?" 

"I  think  most  of  them  are  as  much  inflated  with  vanity,  as  their 
talents  are  overrated  by  the  public.  In  the  estimation  of  some  of 
our  authors,  the  world  never  produced  such  geniuses  as  we  have 
the  privilege  of  worshiping,  in  their  persons  ;  and  they  require  us 
to  mourn  over  the  dearth  which  their  conceptions  and"  productions 
inflicted  upon  exhausted  nature." 

"Ha!  ha!  good,  upon  my  word;  hut  bilious,  though.  Well, 
the  world  does  flatter  them." 

"So  it  does;  and  we  are  bound  to  admire,  as  the  creation  of 
almost  superhuman  power,  James'  '  solitary  horseman,'  Bulwer's 
resounding  periods,  Scott's  rhymes,  and  Dickens'  ghosts." 

"  By  the  virtues  of  our  amiable  queen,  but  you  wield  a  trenchant 
blade.  I  would  not  like  to  have  you  for  a  competitor  in  a  canvass  !" 

"  Have  no  fears  of  that,  good  Sir  William.  As  long  as  bribery 
and  corruption,  trickery  and  meanness  are  the  principal  levers  to 
turn  elections  ;  while  Parliament  but  echoes  the  wishes  of  the  gov 
ernment  and  the  will  of  the  queen  ;  so  long  as  representation  is  a 
mockery,  so  long  will  I  scorn  a  seat  in  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain." 

The  baronet  smiled  complacently. 

"A  little  experience  in  these  matters  would  smooth  down  your 
prejudices  amazingly.  Familiarity  with  such  matters  destroys 
their  repulsiveness." 

"  Precisely  so,  and  that  is  the  reason  why  it  is  so  much  to  be 
apprehended  ;  for  it  undermines  and  destroys  the  purity  of  the  elec 
tive  franchise,  and  courts  favor  with  the  crown,  by  practicing  dis 
loyalty  to  the  people." 

"  Disloyalty  to  the  people  ?  Is  not  that  a  new  phrase,  my  lord, 
for  one  of  the  hereditary  nobility  to  utter  ?" 

"  Undoubtedly,  Sir  William  ;  but  I  trust  that  with  my  accession 
to  these  poor  honors,  I  have  not  lost  my  right  to  call  things  by 
their  proper  names.  Yes,  sir,  disloyalty  to  the  people  !.  By  what 
authority  do  we  make  one  half  the  population  of  England  perform 
the  duties  of  slaves  1  Who  constituted  us  their  masters  fc" 

"  Why,  they  have  the  right  to  leave  our  service  if  they  will," 
said  the  baronet. 

"  The  mendacious  argument  that  has  been  used  to  humbug  and 
deceive  for  the  last  one  hundred  years.  An  argument  true  in  team, 
but  false  in  substance,  and  known  to  be  such  by  those  who  shelter 
themselves  beneath  it.  They  have  the  right  to  leave  our  service, 
say  you  ;  but  can  they  1  That's  the  question  !  Are  we  destitute 
of  coachmen  ?  Do  we  black  our  own  boots  ?  Do  we  perform  me 
nial  servir-e  as  degrading  as  that  rendered  by  the  darkest  son  of 
Africa  1  Cast  your  eyes  over  the  landed  estates  of  our  most  cele 
brated  proprietors,  and  tell  me  if  you  do  not  see  disease,  hunger, 
and  death  !  Walk  through  our  manufacturing  establishments,  and 
deny,  if  you  can,  that  overtasked  frames  are  hurrying  rapidly  to  the 
tomb  !  Traverse  the  mines,  ami  m>f  ?  t4ie  terrible  suffering  of  those 


180  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

whose  hearts  never  rejoice  in  the  light  of  day  !  Witness  the  col 
lier  riots,  instigated  by  starvation  alone!  and  tell  me,  not  that  they 
have  the  right  to  leave  our  service,  but  can  they  ?  That,  I  repeat, 
is  the  question ;  and  until  you  can  answer  it  in  the  affirmative, 
prate  to  me  no  more  of  their  right  to  leave  our  service.  A  subter 
fuge  like  that  from  Sir  William  Belthoven  ?  Sir,  it  is  unworthy 
of  you.  Do  you  suppose,  with  that  glorious  land  of  refuge,  the 
United  States,  before  them  ;  with  its  genial  climate,  fertile  soil, 
and  republican  government,  they  would  hesitate  between  it  and 
want,  servitude,  and  the  dread  realities  of  early  graves  ?  No  !  sir, 
no.  We  have  reduced  them  to  such  abject  poverty  that  they  can 
not  escape.  We  have  mercilessly  robbed  them  of  money,  of  phy 
sical  and  mental  energy  ;  and  there  is  no  fear  but  that  a  sufficient 
number  will  always  remain  in  bondage,  to  supply  us  with  servants, 
and  fill  our  coffers." 

"  Your  language  is  pointed,  my  lord,"  said  the  baronet,  half  se 
riously. 

"  Because  I  have  tasted  the  bitter  cup  of  oppression,  and  I  feel 
that  the  language  of  truth  should  alone  be  used  in  discussing  it." 

"  I  am  fearful  your  opinions  would  not  be  popular  with  your 
class." 

"  What  care  I  for  the  good  will  of  my  class,  if  it  is  to  be  obtained 
by  a  sacrifice  of  honest  convictions  ?  For  what  am  1  indebted  to 
my  class?  Not  for  support,  not  for  education,  but  for  a  recogni 
tion  of  my  rank  when  it  was  forced  upon  them." 

li  If  you  do  not  speak  less  cautiously,  my  lord,  they  will  make 
you  out  a  republican." 

"  I  care  riot  if  they  do,"  he  replied,  sternly  ;  "  they  will  only  de 
clare  the  truth — a  truth  they  had  best  not  probe  too  deeply,  or  it 
may  flash  upon  the  awakened  understanding  of  the  masses,  that 
queenly  powers  are  exercised  by  her  majesty  only  by  sufferance, 
and  that  th.ey  have  only  to  assume  the  rights  which  God  gave  them, 
and  has  never  withdrawn  to  this  hour,  to  divest  her  of  all  semblance 
of  authority." 

"  You  forget,  ray  Lord  Melville,  that  the  prerogatives  of  the 
queen  are  guaranteed  by  the  glorious  and  unchangeable  constitu 
tion  of  England." 

"  You  must  allow  me  to  say,  Sir  William  Belthoven,  that,  for  an 
enlightened  legislator,  you  confound  terms  more  frequently  than  I 
could  have  supposed  it  possible.  You  ought  to  know  that  your 
glorious  constitution  is  not  unchangeable.  Let  me  show  you  what 
Lord  Mansfield,  the  most  profoundly  imbued  of  all  our  judges  with 
legal  knowledge,  said  of  your  unchangeable  constitution." 

Melville  rose  from  his  seat,  and  took  from  the  book-case  an 
ancient-looking  volume. 

"  Here  is  what  that  distinguished  jurist  said  in  1766,  five  centu 
ries  after  the  Magna-Charta  was  forced  from  King  John  by  the 
English  Barons,  many  years  after  William  and  Mary  ascended 
the  throne,  and  long  after  the  nobility  had  limited  the  power  of  the 
throne  to  its  present  sphere. 

"  '  The  constitution  of  this  country  has  always  been  in  a  moving 
state,  either  gaining  or  losing  something.' 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  181 

" '  The  constitution  is  nothing  more  than  a  combination  of  laws, 
which  can  be  diminished,  enlarged,  or  repealed,  like  any  other 
statute,  as  the  caprices  of  parliament  and  the  humor  of  the  sove 
reign  may  dictate.'" 

"  Yon  are  better  versed,  my  Lord,  in  the  science  of  government 
than  I  supposed.  You  will  be  my  most  influential  constituent;  if 
1  can  do  anything  for  you,  command  my  services,  either  in  or  out 
of  parliament." 

"  Thank  you,  Sir  William.  Phelim,  show  this  gentleman  the 
door." 

"And  now  Phelim,"  he  said,  after  that  individual  had  returned, 
"  the  clouds  have  disappeared,  order  our  horses,  and  we  will  visit 
some  of  the  tenants." 

"  Yez."     And  Mr.  Savor  disappeared  with  becoming  alacrity. 

In  a  few  minutes  they  were  mounted,  and  riding  through  the 
lofty  gate  that  spanned  the  entrance  to  the  private  grounds  of 
Mornlow. 

"  Did  yez  not  find  Sir  William  Belthoven  an  illegent  gentleman, 
as  I  told  yez  ?"  said  Phelim,  confidentially,  as  he  smoothed  down 
his  top-knot. 

"Do  you  think  him  such?" 

"  How  can  your  lordship  ax  the  question?" 

"  Because  I  have  some  doubts  myself  upon  that  subject." 

Phelim  was  silent,  while  the  pretensions  of  Sir  William  passed 
under  a  thorough  revision ;  for  if  there  was  any  one  thing  of  which 
Mr.  Savor  was  proud,  it  was  that  his  master  had  the  right  to  think 
for  him.  They  jogged  on  in  silence  for  some  time,  but  it  was 
apparent  to  Melville  that  Phelim  was  laboring  in  the  production  of 
an  idea.  He  twisted  himself  around  in  the  saddle  until  his  weight 
rested  upon  one  thigh,  and  opening  his  mouth,  proceeded  to  scratch 
that  portion  of  his  face  contiguous  thereto,  while  the  neighboring 
eye  was  modestly  closed,  as  if  it  was  unwilling  to  observe  the  satis 
faction  with  which  the  cheek  enjoyed  the  operation — very  much 
after  the  manner  we  have  seen  a  dog  scraping  his  neck  with  his 
hind  foot,  while  seated  on  the  ground,  with  his  head  turned  away, 
his  mouth  drawn  upon  one  side,  and  his  eye  shut. 

"  Ain't  yez  considered  much  more  respectable,  now  yez  is  a 
lord  ?"  he  at  length  managed  to  ejaculate. 

NPerhaps  so,  by  some  persons." 

"  And  it's  mesel'  thinks  that  same;  for  ba  ma  sowl,  what's  fine 
clothes  worth,  if  they  do'nt  make  you  more  ov  a  gentleman  T' 

"  Would  you  place  a  higher  estimate  upon  your  claim  to  that 
title  if  I  should  give  you  a  suit  of  my  clothes  T' 

"Thry  ma,  and  say.  Hoot  ma  lord,  do  yez  think  I'd  be  after 
koorting  Suzy  McGowrie  ony  more  if  yez  made  ma  a  gentleman  in 
that  way  ?" 

"  It  will  not  be  well  for  you,  Phelim,  if  ever  I  find  you  guilty  of 
any  rascality." 

•  "  And  sure  yez  woulddent  call  it  rascality  if  I  ver  to  become  a 
gintleman,  and  shoulddent  kape  ony  more  Sunday  evenings  wid 
Suzy  ?  Why  the  nobility  do  that  same,  when  they  are  deviated, 
an  it  would  ba  a  bold  man  who'd  call  them  unjintlemanly." 


18-2  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  Phelim  Savor,  your  opinions  are  all  wrong.  Is  it  possible  you 
can  think  rank  makes  a  man  honorable,  or  respected  ?" 

"Yez  Ain't  yez  a  lord  ?  And  would  yez  hev  [hat  heavenly 
title,  until  yez  wer  better  than  common  men  ?" 

"  Man  !  man  !  how  degraded  have  you  become,  to  be  controlled 
by  a  phrase,  and  awed  by  a  title.  Phelim,  you  suppose  a  lord 
must  be  something  more  than  human,  because  he  possesses  a 
"  heavenly  title  ?" 

"  Yez.'' 

"  Now  let  me  undeceive  you.  The  word  lord  is  derived  from 
two  Saxon  words,  half-/oa/,  and  ford— to  give—and  therefore  he 
was  styled  a  bread-giver.  He  was  originally  a  miller,  or  a  chari 
table  person.  If  the  former,  Dick  Sykes,  who  grinds  wheat  for 
the  neighborhood,  is  a  lord  ;  if  the  latter,  the  class  have  strangely 
degenerated,  and  I  fear  but  a  small  number  at  the  present  day  could 
rightfully  claim  the  title,  if  it  depended  upon  the  quantity  of  bread 
they  give." 

'  Ba  ma  sowl,  no.  Especially  yez  predecessor ;  for  bee  the  holy 
Saint  PathHck,  he  wanted  to  take  bread  out  of  our  mouths,  instead 
of  giving  it  tul  us." 

"  Square  the  conduct  of  the  English  nobility  with  that  charity 
and  good  fellowship  which  originally  gave  the  title,  and  there 
must  be  few,  very  few,  in  the  British  empire  with  whom  to  disho 
nor  our  heavenly  father,  by  prefixing  a  divine  appellation  to  the 
name  of  a  human  being. 

"  Begorra  !  I  niver  thought  of  that.  If  the  giving  ov  bread 
entitles  us  to  be  called  lords,  it's  yez  and  meself  ought  to  be  mighty 
fine  lords;  for  little  we  ate,  sometimes,  when  we  had  to  give  all 
to  the  Stewart,  at  the  castle  bey  ant,  to  pay  the  rint.  Bad  luck  tul 
the  nobility.  We'll  vindicate  our  right— will  the  poor  divils 
throughout  Angland,  Scotland,  and  Ireland— to  the  title  of  lords, 
bekase  all  the  bread  that's  given  cooraes  from  us.  Be  the  holy 
Saint  Pathrick,  it  will  not  sound  so  bad  nayther.  Lord  Phelim 
Savor  ;  Lord  Dick  Sykes  ;  Lord  Simon  Spew.  Begorra,  I 
like  it." 

Lord  Melville  dismounted  before  a  small  cabin,  the  door  of  which 
was  opened  by  a  tall  and  venerable-looking  old  man.  His  white 
hair,  stooping  form,  and  tremulous  voice,  betokened  great  age.  He 
extended  his  shrivelled  hand  and  welcomed  Melville  with  a  glad 
smile. 

"  My  lord,  I  looked  for  you  to-day.  I  have  not  much  longer  to 
live,  and  I  knew  you  would  make  me  happy  as  often  as  you  could, 
with  your  presence.'1 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Sherman.     How  do  you  feel  to-day  ?" 

"  Much  the  same.  My  constitution  has  been  too  much  shat 
tered  in  the  service  of  your  father  and  grandfather  forme  to  pass  a 
day  without  pain.  But,  thank  God,  it  will  soon  be  over,  for  every 
time  I  look  in  the  glass  I  think  my  hair  is  becoming  whiter,  and 
the  wrinkles  upon  my  forehead  are  deepening." 

"  You  have  seen  hard  times,  my  poor  old  friend." 

"  You  may  well  say  that,"  he  replied,  nodding  his  head.  "  And 
yet  what  hopes  I  had  when  a  young  man  !  I  was  a  favorite  of  your 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  188 

grandfather's  steward,  and  held  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Hender 
son.  I  had  won  the  affections  of  a  neighbor's  daughter,  a  guile 
less,  beautiful  girl.  We  were  married  ;  five  years  of  wedded  bliss 
and  two  boys  and  a  girl  rewarded  our  union.  The  evil  times 
came.  The  steward  died  :  he  was  succeeded  by  a  villain,  who 
sought  to  corrupt  the  fidelity  of  my  wife,  and  being  indignantly  re 
pulsed  told  your  grandfather  I  was  exciting  disloyalty°among  his 
tenants.  Our  crop  was  unfortunately  cut  off  that  year.  We  could 
not  pay  the  rent.  He  made  the  Duke  believe  I  could  pay  it, 
but  would  not;  We  were  turned  from  our  home.  I  sought  em 
ployment  elsewhere  ;  and  in  my  absence  the  steward — my  God  ! 
why  didst  thou  suffer  it  ?  visited  the  hovel  where  my  wife  was, 
and  by  force,  brute  force,  accomplished  her  ruin." 

The  tears  trickled  down  the  cheeks  of  the  old  man  ;  his  bosom 
heaved,  and  he  struggled  violently  for  breath.  Melville  sprang 
to  his  side  for  he  thought  the  moment  of  death  had  arrived.  But 
he  rallied,  and  continued  his  story  in  a  low,  tremulous  voice. 

"  She  died  that  night  upon  my  bosom,  and  we  buried  her  upon 
the  slope  of  the  hill  yonder.  Fifty  years  have  elapsed  since  they 
heaped  the  earth  upon  her  bosom,  but  the  anguish  I  now  feel  for 
her  loss  is  as  keen  as  it  was  then.  So  lovely,  so  pure,  so  affec 
tionate,  and  to  be  murdered  by  a  brute  !" 

Deep  sobs  burst  from  the  bosom  of  the  old  man. 

Melville  did  not  interrupt  his  grief. 

"  Broken-hearted,  I  had  nothing  to  struggle  for,  to  hope  for  ; 
but  my  children  cried  for  bread.  Long  years  of  suffering  ensued. 
Money  and  food  was  required  by  the  government  to  subsidize  the 
enemies  of  the  tyrant  Napoleon,  and  to  feed  our  soldiers  who  were 
endeavoring  to  arrest  his  blood-thirsty  career.  Food  was  scarce  ; 
one  of  my  sons  died  from  starvation.  I  saw  him  dwindling  away, 
but  I  could  riot  help  it,  for  toil  as  I  did  for  fifteen  hours  a-day  I 
could  not  obtain  sufficient  food  to  keep  them  all  alive.  To  save 
them,  I  eat  scarcely  half  enough  myself.  All  would  not  do.  He 
died  in  my  arms,  and  I  never  shall  forget  that  last  terrible  strug 
gle  with  the  fell  monster.  His  starting  eyeballs,  his  limbs  racked 
with  agony,  his  loud,  piercing  shrieks,  becoming  fainter  and  fainter 
until  he  expired  with  a  faint  moan.  Oh  !  how  I  rejoiced  when  I 
laid  his  unconscious  form  upon  the  mattrass,  and  knew  he  was  be 
yond  the  reach  of  suffering.  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
during  the  long  years  that  succeeded,  that  our  sufferings  purchased 
the  liberty  of  Europe,  for  Bonaparte  was  overthrown." 

"  How  have  you  been  deceived  by  a  crafty  government."  said 
Melville,  in  a  low  tone,  "  as  to  the  designs  of  the  Republican  Em 
peror  ?" 

"  My  children  never  married  because  they  would  not  bring  inno 
cent  beings  into  a  world  of  woe  and  misery,  aud  so  we  have  lived 
together  until  we  are  all  old  people." 

"  Why  did  you  not  apply  to  my  grandfather?" 

"  I  did,  but  he  always  referred  me  to  his  steward.  After  the 
death  of  that  wicked  man  I  went  to  him  again,  but  he  told  me  he 
was  too  old  to  listen  to  the  complaints  of  his  tenants.  He,  too, 
died  shortly  after,  and  then  we  suffered  more  than  ever." 


184  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

"  From  my  father?" 

"  Yes,  he  was  young  and  extravagant,  and  required  more  money 
than  his  father.  Rents  were  increased,  and  you  may  well  believe 
they  were  collected.  When  he  had  sown  his'wild  oats,  his  son,  or 
the  person  every  one  supposed  was  his  son,  tyrannized  over  us 
most  shamefully,  and  our  condition  was  wretched  indeed." 

"  But  why  did  you  not  emigrate  to  the  United  States?" 

"  Ah !  that  is  what  we  often  hoped  for,  and  prayed  for,  but  we 
could  not  raise  sufficient  money  to  pay  the  passage.  You  must 
think,  my  dear  Lord  Melville,  how  destitute  we  were.  No  friends 
who  had  the  ability  to  aid  us,  and  every  penny  we  could  earn  was 
only  enough  to  keep  us  from  (in tiger." 

"  I  know, -I  know." 

"  Some  of  our  friends  would  occasionally  receive  a  few  pounds  ; 
enough  to  pay  their  passage  to  that  land  of  promise.  How  happy 
they  were,  and  how  we  envied  their  blessed  lot.  My  son  said  if 
he  could  once  get  to  America,  he  would  earn  money  and  send  it  to 
me  and  Sarah,  but  he  was  never  able  to  go." 

"Would  you  like  to  go  now  ;  if  so,  I  will  pay  the  passage  of  all 

"Will  you  ?"  said  the  old  man  eagerly. 

"Yes." 

He  paused  in  deep  thought. 

"  If  any  one  but  you  were  our  master,  I  would  so  gladly  accept 
your  offer.  But  now  I  am  satisfied  to  remain,  for  I  wish  my  body 
to  repose  beside  that  of  my  wife.  After  I  am  gone  will  you  assist 
John  and  Sarah  to  reach  the  United  States  ?" 

"  I  will,  if  they  wish  to  go," 

"They  are  as  happy  here  as  they  could  desire,  and  if  your  coun 
sels  were  always  to_  prevail,  they  would  rather  live  and  die  here. 
But  life  is  uncertain",  and  I  should  quit  this  world  much  happier  if 
I  knew  they  had  the  power  to  leave  England  if  they  desired." 

"  To  place  the  matter  beyond  doubt,  here  is  a  hundred  pound 
note,  which  you  may  keep  for  them." 

"Many,  many  thanks  for  your  kindness,  my  dear  young  sir  ; 
the  Lord  will  bless  you  for  your  kindness  to  us,  and  all  your  father's 
tenants.  If  you  only  knew,  Lord  Melville,  how  widely  differ 
ent  is  the  condition  of  affairs  now  and  before  you  were  sent  to  bless 
us  !  Then,  nothing  was  heard  from  one  end  of  the  estate  to  the 
other  but  lamentations  and  curses.  Now,  smiling  faces  are  every 
where  seen,  and  the  praises  of  their  young  lord  are  heard  upcn 
every  lip." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  my  father's  tenants  are  happy.  It  shall 
always  be  my  duty,  as  it  is  my  pleasure,  to  make  them  so,  for  they 
have  as  much  right  to  enjoy  the  happiness  which  this  poor  world 
can  bestow,  as  the  Duke  of  Sunderland." 

"May  heaven  shower  its  richest  blessings  upon  your  head  for 
those  words.  Not  because  I  shall  live  long  enough  to  witness  your 
kindness,  but  I  have  seen  so  much  unhappiness  in  my  long  life,  that 
I  am  overjoyed  to  think  there  are  better  days  in  store  for  those 
who  are  younger  than  myself." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  185 

"  Good  bye,  my  venerable  friend.  I  believe  you  have  made  me 
as  happy  as  you  are  yourself." 

And  with  a  countenance  beaming  with  satisfaction,  Lord  Mel 
ville  mounted  his  horse  and  returned  to  Mornlow. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  Bright  flag  at  yonder  tapering  mast. 
Fling  out  your  field  of  azure  blue  ; 
Let  star  and  stripe  be  westward  oust, 
And  point  as  Freedom's  eagle  flew  ! 
Siraiti  home  !  0  lithe  and  quivering  spars  ! 
Point  home  my  country's  flag  of  stars  !" — WLLIIS. 

ROBERT  KANE  was  taken  on  board  a  government  vessel,  anchored 
in  the  Tharrfes,  and  heavily  ironed,  a  precaution  that,  for  the  hour, 
was  unnecessary.  The  blows  that  he  had  received  on  his  head,  in 
the  struggle  with  the  kidnappers,  produced  insensibility,  and  he  lay 
for  a  long  time  unconscious  of  his  fate,  as  he  was  of  the  manacles 
upon  his  limbs.  At  length  reason  recovered  her  throne,  and  he 
awoke  to  a  full  knowledge  of  his  situation.  His  wounds  were 
painful,  especially  the  one  that  had  scarcely  healed,  and  was  now 
cut  still  deeper  than  before.  Raising  his  he'ad  with  great  difficulty, 
he  glanced  around  the  hold,  which  was  faintly  lighted  by  a  lamp 
that  obstinately  refused  to  give  out  its  rays  upon  such  a  dismal 
scene  with  any  degree  of  cheerfulness.  Now  and  then  it  flashed 
up,  but  it  was  more  in  spite  than  a  settled  determination  to  discharge 
the  functions  of  a  serviceable  lamp.  By  the  aid  of  its  dim  light, 
Robert  Kane  counted  thirteen  men  manacled  like  himself.  They 
all  belonged  to  the  lower  classes,  a  fact  that  in  no  small  degree  il 
lustrated  the  shrewdness  of  the  English  government.  In  the  first 
place,  their  forms  were  inured  to  toil,  and  to  short  rations  likewise  ; 
and  in  case  of  a  paucity  of  stores,  they  could  be  taught  to  fast,  as 
the  Dutchman  made  his  horse,  with  the  soothing  observation  that  he 
"  would  tink  not'ing  of  it  when  hes  got  used  toot."  And  in  the 
second  place,  it  was  found  much  easier  to  kidnap  a  poor  man,  who 
had  no  friends,  than  one  whose  disappearance  would  cause  at  least 
a  temporary  excitement.  The  argument  was  decidedly  in  favor  of 
the  poor  man,  and,  therefore,  the  government  claimed  his  services. 
A  difference  which  was,  no  doubt,  exceedingly  gratifying  to  that 
chosen  class. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  that  all  who  occupied  that  small  hold 
were  as  deserving  of  a  better  fate  as  Robert  Kane.  Some  of  them 
had  drunk  deeply  of  what,  in  polite  circles,  would  be  called  "  dissi 
pation,1'  but  which,  in  the  present  case,  could  be  termed  nothing 
less  than  a  fondness  for  the  meanest  kind  of  Scotch  whiskey,  and 
an  exceptionable  quantity  of  black  strap.  Their  features  were 
bloated  as  much  from  the  excessive  consumption  of  bad  liquor,  as 
from  the  blows  that  had  been  freely  dealt  about  their  ears,  for  the 
purpose  of  beating  it  into  their  dull  comprehension  that  the  gov 
ernment  was  desirous  of  bestowing  upon  them  the  honorable  rank 

9* 


186  .      ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

of  high  private  in  the  regular  service  ;  a  distinguished  mark  of  fa 
vor  which  it  was  supposed  they  would  acknowledge  by  at  least 
three  years  service,  provided  the  halance-sheet  of  life  was  not 
struck  during  that  time  ;  and  provided,  farther,  that  their  services 
were  no  longer  required. 

There  were  others  who  bore  their  sufferings  with  far  less  indif 
ference.  Upon  their  gloomy  countenances  was  set  the  unmistaka 
ble  seal  of  despair,  which  spoke  of  severed  domestic  ties  and 
ruined  hopes. 

While  Kane  was  contemplating  this  spectacle  of  horrible  suffer 
ing,  another  victim  was  rudely  thrust  into  the  hold. 

"  Ha !  ha  !  here  coomes  another  unwollunlary  pathreot  to  defind 
his  koontry  and  make  her  an  hexemple  for  all  ambitious  nations. 
It's  mesell  that  hopes  he'll  hev  a  nice  time  for  the  next  tree  years." 

A  groan  was  the  only  response  of  the  new  comer.  Robert 
turned  his  head  and  encountered  the  half-averted  eyes  of  Riley. 
The  eyes  of  the  villain  could  not  meet  those  of  the  man  whom  he 
had  so  grievously  wronged,  and  he  cowed  before  his  gaze  with  the 
sneaking  look  of  a  person  conscious  of  his  immeasurable  rascalitv. 

Day,  shorn  of  its  brightness,  found  its  way  into  the  hold,  and 
soon  after,  one  of  the  subordinate  officers  entering,  removed  the 
fetters  from  the  limbs  of  the  prisoners,  with  the  exception  of  the 
handcuffs.  They  were  then  ordered  upon  deck.  If  they  had  just 
emerged  from  the  dust  and  smoke  of  battle  they  could  not  have 
presented  a  more  wretched  appearance.  Their  heads  were  terri 
bly  cut ;  their  clothes  were  nearly  all  torn  off,  revealing  broken 
arms,  and  bodies  awfully  bruised  and  lacerated.  They  were  wounds 
that  are  more  frequently  given  by  enemies  than  by  friends.  But 
who  can  take  such  liberties  with  our  persons  if  our  friends  cannot  ? 
To  the  deck,  then,  staggered  these  wretched  creatures.  The  offi 
cer  in  command  inspected  them. 

"This  lot  is  rather  badly  bruised,  Hurdy  ;  how  comes  that?" 

"  Why,  you  see,  they  are  obstinate  devils " 

"  Hoot !     No  swearing  on  the  quarter-deck." 

"  Beg  pardon,  but  they  fought  like  mad.  They  will  make  all 
the  better  soldiers  when  they  get  broken  in,  though.'' 

"  A  process  which,  it  seems,  you  undertook  yourself,  if  we  may 
judge  from  the  number  of  broken  heads  visible  this  morning." 

"  Well,  as  I  told  you,  they  were  more  than  ordinarily  pugnacious. 
One  fellow  will  make  a  capital  sailor  or  soldier,  for  he  is  as  strong 
as  a  lion,  and  as  quick  in  his  motions  as  a  cat." 

"  Which  one  ?" 

"  That  one  with  the  sullen  countenance,"  he  said,  pointing-  to 
Robert  Kane. 

"  Step  forward,  fellow."  • 

Robert  moved  with  great  difficulty  in  front  of  his  companions. 

"  What  are  you  best  fitted  for,  sailor,  marine,  infantry,  cavalry, 
or  artillery  ?" 

"  Neither,"  replied  Robert,  firmly. 

"  Your  modesty  is  worthy  of  the  highest  commendation,  and  it 
shall  be  rewarded,"  said  the  officer. 
^"  You  either  do  not,  or  will  not  understand  me,"  said  Kane. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  187 

"  What  may  your  meaning  be,  then,  my  fine  gentleman ?" 

"  That  I  will  neither  act  as  a  sailor  or  marine,  or  serve  in  the 
infantry,  cavalry,  or  artillery." 

The  officer  winked  at  his  companion,  and  a  coarse  laugh  was 
heard  from  the  main-deck. 

"You  won't?"  said  the  officer. 

"No." 

"  And  what  may  be  your  reason  for  so  sapient  a  conclusion  ?" 

"I  have  never  received  a  solitary  favor  from  the  government, 
except  the  privilege  of  contributing  my  aid  to  support  its  extrava 
gances.  I  have  been  torn  from  my  family,  who  are  left  to  starva 
tion.  I  will  not  assist  that  government  to  gratify  an  insane  ambi 
tion,  or  redden  my  hands  with  the  blood  of  its  victims." 

"  He  has  the  ring  of  good  metal,  and  will  prove  a  valuable  acqui 
sition.  In  his  case  you  have  earned  your  bounty." 

"  But  can  you  conquer  him,"  asked  a  gentleman,  who  seemed, 
from  the  cut  of  his  dress,  white  neckcloth,  and  nasal  pronunciation, 
to  belong  to  the  clerical  fraternity. 

"If  you  doubt  it,  you  scarcely  comprehend  the  efficient  training 
the  service  has  adopted  for  the  proper  discipline  of  such  custom 
ers.  We  don't  exalt  the  national  character  for  them,  and  then  tol 
erate  disobedience  of  orders,  when  we  think  proper  to  claim  their 
grateful  acknowledgments." 

"  No ;  that  would  be  expecting  too  much  forbearance  from  even 
the  benign  and  merciful  government  of  Great  Britain,"  responded 
the  clergyman. 

"  Well,  sirrah  !  are  \ve  to  expect  a  mutinous  spirit  in  you?" 

'•  A  mutinous  spirit  can  only  be  shown  by  one  who  has,  in  some 
way,  admitted  the  right  of  the  service  to  control  his  actions." 

"  Upon  my  word,  a  special  pleader.  A  parliamentary  reformer 
could  not  have  defined  the  supposed  rights  of  an  Englishman  with 
greater  precision." 

"  He's  a  terrible  obstinate  fellow,"  interposed  Riley,  "  and  has 
often  threatened  me,  her  majesty's  most " 

"  Silence  !"  thundered  the  officer. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Riley,  shrinking  into  his  accustomed  insig 
nificance. 

"I  have  your  answer?" 

"  You  have." 

*'  Boatswain,  bring  the  cat." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  the  boatswain,  in  as  cheerful  a  voice  as 
if  he  was  about  to  perform  the  most  grateful  duty  that  could  be 
asked  of  a  sympathizing  mortal. 

It  was  a  brawny  arm  he  disclosed  as  Kane's  hands  were  elevated 
above  his  head.  The  old  salts  looked  on  with  stoical  indiffer 
ence  ;  the  officers  as  if  they  duly  appreciated  the  scientific  results 
of  the  lash  ;  the  clergyman  with  a  devout  conviction  that  whole 
some  discipline  was  truly  beneficial  in  controlling  the  lusts  of  the 
flesh,  and  also  with  a  distinct  idea  that  the  government  of  Great 
Britain,  whose  power  it  was  necessary  the  contumacious  individual 
should  sustain,  upheld  the  Church  of  England.  The  knot  of  man 
gled  human  beings  witnessed  the  preparations  with  different  emo- 


188  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

lions.  Riley  rubbed  his  hands  gleefully.  Some  regarded  the  re 
sistance  of  Kane  as  worse  than  foolish,  and  others  sought  to  learn 
in  his  fate  the  result  of  obstinacy. 

44  Now,  boatswain,  see  what  effect  fifty  lashes  will  have  upon  this 
person." 

The  brawny  arm  of  the  boatswain  swung  round  his  head,  and 
down  fell  the  cat  upon  the  quivering  flesh  of  Robert  Kane.  Nine 
red  stripes  were  left  upon  the  back  of  the  victim.  Again  and  again 
the  merciless  cat  descended,  until  ninety  stripes  had  furrowed  his 
shoulders  and  loins. 

44  Now,  Boatswain,  rest  a  few  minutes,  and  give  him  a  chance  to 
reflect  while  his  back  smarts.  I  have  known  miraculous  changes 
of  opinion  under  such  circumstances." 

Robert's  countenance  was  a  shade  paler,  but  the  same  determi 
nation  was  still  stamped  upon  his  forehead. 

"  You  can  proceed,  Boatswain  ;  our  merciful  intentions  are  not 
duly  appreciated." 

4'  Rebellious  flesh  deserveth  chastisement,  yea,  verily,  for  its  own 
good,"  .ejaculated  the  divine. 

The  blood  now  followed  each  sweep  of  the  lash,  and  the  suffer 
ing  flesh  was  grooved  into  waves.  The  blows  fell  downwards, 
then  upwards,  and  then  crosswise,  as  the  ingenuity  of  the  boat 
swain  prompted  their  direction.  Cold  drops  of  sweat  stood  out 
upon  the  forehead  of  the  wretched  man,  and  from  the  reopened 
wound  upon  his  brow  the  dark  blood  slowly  trickled  away.  The 
muscles  of  the  lower  part  of  his  face  trembled,  but  resolution  still 
flashed  from  his  eyes. 

"  Your  arm  is  weaker  than  usual,  boatswain,"  observed  the 
officer,  sarcastically. 

44  The  rod  well  administered  chastiseth  the  disobedient,  said 
the  clergyman,  who  saw  in  the  obstinacy  of  the  victim  an  assault 
upon  the  stability  of  the  government,  and  consequently  upon  the 
church  of  England. 

"  You  wouldn't  think  so,  if  the  application  was  made  to  your 
own  back,"  replied  the  boatswain,  who  nevertheless  redoubled  his 
exertions  as  he  dashed  the  cat  into  the  quivering  body  of  the  poor 
fellow. 

"  Fifty  !"  shouted  the  boatswain,  as  he  separated  the  cats  with 
his  fingers.  They  were  cemented  with  blood. 

44  It  can  never  be  sufficiently  deplored  that  our  slaveholding 
brethren  in  America  have  not  the  same  excuse  for  using  the  Jash," 
said  the  clergyman  mournfully. 

44 1  must  confess  an  inability  to  discover  the  difference,"  replied 
the  officer.  '•  The  lash  in  either  case  is  only  required  to  enforce 
obedience." 

44  But  here  the  application  is  made  by  the  supreme  power.' 

44  Upon  the  bodies  of  free-born  Britons,  who  boast  of  the  gentle 
laws  of  merry  England"  said  the  officer  ;  "  while  in  the  United 
States  the  lash  is  wielded  by  those  who  derive  the  right  from  the 
constitution,  the  supreme  law  of  the  land." 

"  But  herein  consists  the  difference,"  said  the  clergyman.  "  The 
8lave — that  is  to  say,  the  Englishman — if — " 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  189 

"  Which  lucid  explanation  means,  when  rightly  understood,  that 
the  slave  is  black,  and  the  Englishman  is  white,  a  consideration  of 
no  small  importance  at  a  time  when  the  descendents  of  Hani,  that 
especial  favorite  of  the  Lord,  are  winning  the  sympathies  and  se 
ducing  the  affections  of  half  the  beautiful  aristocracy  of  England, 
with  their  ebon  skins  and  irresistible  attractions.  Boatswain,  put 
double  irons  upon  that  fellow  ;  place  him  in  solitary  confinement, 
and  feed  him  upon  bread  and  water  till  to-morrow  morning.  If  he 
is  still  obstinate  he  shall  receive  fifty  lashes  more.  Begone,  sir.'1 

Kane  withdrew  from  the  deck  with  great  difficulty. 

"And  now  who  else  refuses  to  obey  orders  ?"  he  exclaimed, 
fiercely. 

No  rebellious  glance  met  his  own  ;  they  had  been  subdued  by 
the  terrible  punishment  inflicted  upon  Robert  Kane. 

"  It  is  well,"  said  the  officer,  "  you  know  what  to  expect  if  you 
display  a  mutinous  disposition.  Boatswain,  let  vthe  handcuffs  re 
main  upon  these  fellows  for  the  present." 

Robert  Kane  maintained  a  firm,  unflinching  countenance  until  he 
was  alone,  and  then  the  big  tears  that  anguish  forced  from  him 
coursed  down  his  manly  cheeks.  It  was  not  physical  suffering  that 
shook  his  frame  and  made  his  heart  throb  almost  to  bursting.  No, 
he  could  endure  that  without  a  murmur.  But  the  deep  humiliation 
of  having  the  lash  applied  to  his  back.  His  back.  The  husband 
of  Mary  Kane,  the  father  of  three  lovely  children,  all,  all  dishonor 
ed  by  the  awful  scourging  he  had  received.  A  free-born  English 
man,  with  rights,  apparently,  as  sacred  as  those  which  guarded 
the  person  of  a  belted  earl,  publicly  to  receive  fifty  lashes,  and  for 
no  other  offence  than  a  determination  not  to  recognize  the  right  to 
drag  him  from  the  bosom  of  a  helpless  family,  who  had  no  other 
earthly  protector  but  himself.  His  feelings  were  crushed,  and  he 
looked  upon  himself  as  the  most  abject  of  human  beings.  Still  he 
had  one  duty  to  perform,  from  which  disgrace  could  not  release 
him.  He  must  return  to  his  family  or  perish  in  the  attempt.  He 
could  not  endure  the  thought  that  those  dear  creatures — dear  to 
him  in  spite  of  his  dishonor — should  suffer  for  the  want  of  bread. 
It  was  a  determination  to  avail  himself  of  every  opportunity  to  es 
cape,  that  had  induced  him  to  set  at  defiance  the  authority  of  the 
kidnappers,  for  a  performance  of  duty,  he  supposed,  would  be  re 
garded  as  a  recognition  of  their  right  to  claim  his  services  for  an 
indefinite  period  of  time  :  and  consequently  the  power  to  arrest 
him  as  a  deserter  should  he  succeed  in  effecting  his  escape.  But 
could  he  endure  the  terrible  punishment  they  would  certainly  in 
flict  upon  him  ?  He  would  rely  upon  God  and  his  own  resolution. 
The  next  morning  he  was  again  brought  forth ;  again  refused  to 
yield  ;  and  again  the  scourge  was  applied  to  his  lacerated  back. 
The  wounds  of  yesterday,  from  which  the  blood  was  still  oozing, 
were  reopened  by  the  remorseless  cat.  The  pain  was  intolerable, 
the  form  of  the  sufferer  quivered  at  every  blow,  and  from  the  man 
gled  flesh  the  blood,  (only  a  while  man's  blood,  however,)  ran  in 
streams  to  his  feet.  Before  the  fifty  lashes  were  inflicted  Robert 
Kane  fainted.  He  was  borne  to  the  place  of  solitary  confinement, 
and  left  with  a  supply  of  bread  and  water. 


190  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

A  raging  fever  now  attacked  his  frame,  followed  by  delirium. 
He  imagined  a  thousand  devils  had  formed  a  league  to  torment 
him.  All  the  ingenuity  that  is  usually  ascribed  to  that  inventive 
fraternity  seemed  to  be  exhausted,  in  discovering  means  to  rack  his 
frame.  At  one  moment  they  contrived,  with  the  assistance  of 
hellish  machinery,  to  roll  mountains  upon  his  head.  The  weight 
ought  to  crush  him — and  he  tried,  so  hard  to  die — but  there  the 
mountain  rested  ;  and  although  it  was  slowly  compressing  his  skull 
upon  the  brain,  it  appeared  as  though  ages  would  elapse,  before 
dissolution  could  take  place.  At  last  he  experienced  all  the  agony 
of  death — the  gasp — the  death-rattle — and  he  smiled,  that  all  was 
over;  when  the  mountain  was  removed,  consciousness  returned, 
and  a  chorus  of  satanic  laughter  rang  in  his  ears.  He  was  then 
placed  in  an  immense  cauldron.  It  was  filled  with  water  to  his 
throat,  and  then  a  continuous  stream  of  hell-fire,  with  the  tradi 
tional  bluish  tint,  was  poured  under  it.  The  water  became  warmer  ; 
it  began  to  simmer  around  the  edges  :  the  heat  was  insufferable  ; 
and  then  the  horrible  thought  flashed  upon  him,  that  when  it  boiled, 
the  water  would  mount  to  his  lips  ;  his  breath  would  stop.  He 
tried  to  spring  to  the  surface,  but  his  feet  were  rivetted  to  the 
bottom.  Slowly  the  waves  rolled  towards  him,  each  larger  than 
the  one  which  preceded  it.  The  boiling  foam  touched  his  lips.  He 
raised  himself  to  his  utmost  height;  it  entered  his  nostrils,  and  with 
its  fierce  heat  burnt  his  vitals  ;  his  blood  rushed  madly  through  his 
veins.  Thank  God  !  a  few  more  struggles — but  oh  !  so  frightful — 
and  all  would  be  over.  Death  would  not  relieve  him.  The  water 
receded,  to  his  shoulders  ;  it  became  colder  ;  it  congealed,  and  he 
was  in  the  centre  of  a  solid  mass  of  ice.  Death  clutched  his  limbs, 
his  pulse  beat  feebly  ;  the  grim  monster  seized  his  heart,  and  it 
became  as  solid  as  a  rock.  He  ceased  to  breathe,  and  the  anom 
aly  was  presented  to  his  startled  fancy,  of  a  man  living  without 
respiration.  He  tried  to  conjecture  how  long  it  would  last,  but  his 
ideas  became  confused  ;  they,  too,  seemed  to  be  frozen  ;  and  at 
last  he  sunk,  for  a  moment,  into  a  state  of  insensibility.  It  was  not 
death,  though,  for  his  tormentors  returned  with  redoubled  vigor  to 
the  assault.  He  was  horror-stricken,  when  he  beheld  among  the 
foremost  the  features  of  his  wife — but  so  changed  !  No  flickering 
ray  of  affection  lingered  upon  her  features.  They  were  sharpened 
and  twisted  into  the  direst  representation  of  malicious  hate.  He 
shouted  her  name  in  tones  of  affection  and  entreaty  ;  still  onward 
she  led  the  ferocious  band,  stimulating  their  passions  by  appealing 
to  them  in  the  language  of  the  infernal  regions.  Seizing  him  by 
the  hair,  he  was  borne  aloft — up,  up — he  thought  she  would  pierce 
the  sky.  His  head  whirled  as  he  gazed  downward  into  the  void 
beneath.  With  a  loud  burst  of  hellish  laughter,  she  released  her 
hold,  and  he  shot  through  the  realms  of  space.  Beneath  he  could 
see  a  vast  sheet  of  liquid  fire  ;  the  waves  of  that  ocean  which  rolled 
onward,  driven  by  no  cooling  breeze,  but  borne  along  by  the 
shoals  of  damned  spirits,  who  restlessly  moved  from  one  shore 
to  the  other,  in  the  vain  hope  that  a  way  was  to  be  opened  for 
their  exodus,  during  some  one  of  the  revolutions  of  an  endless 
eternity. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  191 

Into  this  lake  of  fire  he  plunged  headlong. 

The  boiling  liquid  penetrated  the  marrow  of  his  bones ;  still  he 
sank  deeper  and  deeper,  until  he  saw  nothing  but  fire;  breathed 
nothing  but  fire  ;  felt  nothing  but  fire.  A  spirit  more  gentle  than 
the  rest  came  to  his  relief.  It  laid  its  hand  upon  his  arm,  to  bear 
him  aloft.  The  touch  was  grateful.  He  opened  his  eyes,  and  saw 
the  physician  of  the  ship  bending  over  him. 

"  You  are  very  ill." 

Robert  nodded  his  head. 

"  Water" — he  whispered. 

It  was  placed  to  his  lips,  and  he  drank  it  eagerly. 

"  You  may  remove  these  irons ;  it  will  be  a  long  time  before 
he  can  escape,  without  them,"  he  said,  to  a  person  who  stood 
behind  him. 

They  were  taken  off. 

"  Now  bear  him  amidships  ;  he  must  have  light  and  air." 

The  violent  attack  of  brain  fever  yielded  slowly  to  the  efforts  of 
skill.  They  did  not  intend  to  kill  the  body  :  they  only  wished  to  de 
stroy  every  manly  sentiment  that  elevates  him  who  walks  the  earth 
in  God's  image,  above  the  brute.  Blind  obedience  must  control 
his  mechanical  power,  and  to  accomplish  that  object,  the  govern 
ment  of  England,  the  humanizing,  civilizing,  slavery-hating  gov 
ernment  of  England,  adopted  the  benevolent  and  christian-like  prac 
tice  of  brutalizing  her  subjects.  The  process,  however,  was  so 
strictly  in  accordance  with  the  divine  teachings  of  the  Redeemer, 
the  professed  morality  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  reported 
sanctity  of  the  British  character,  that  no  voice  was  heard  to  de 
nounce  it.  Parliamentary  reformers,  eminent  divines,  the  nobility, 
gentry,  farmers,  all,  exhibited  their  appreciation  of  the  system  by  a 
silent  and  complacent  acquiescence. 

Slowly  Robert  Kane's  strength  returned,  and  with  it  a  determi 
nation  to  effect  his  escape,  if  possible.  The  vigilance  of  the  offi 
cers  had  been  relaxed  during  his  illness,  but  he  now  anticipated 
another  resort  to  severe  measures.  His  only  chance  of  escape 
was  to  let  himself  down  into  the  Thames,  and  swim  ashore.  This 
must  be  attempted  on  a  dark  night,  when  his  movements  could  not 
be  observed  from  the  ship  or  the  shore.  He  had  many  doubts  as 
to  whether  he  had  sufficient  strength  to  swim  to  the  shore,  especial 
ly  as  the  water  was  now  exceedingly  cold.  He  resolved,  neverthe 
less,  to  make  the  attempt,  and  he  only  waited  for  the  moon  to  rise 
later.  At  least  two  days  more  must  elapse.  They  slowly  dragged 
their  length  along.  He  was  agitated  by  a  feverish  solicitude.  At 
last  the  day  arrived.  The  sky  was  overcast  with  clouds,  and  a 
cold,  drizzling  rain  was  falling,  calculated  to  make  the  unhappy  in. 
dulge  in  that  luxury — which  would  be  more  prevalent,  if  the  Eng 
lish  had  not  made  it  so  vulgar — throat-cutting.  The  raw  wind 
thrust  its  rude  breath  into  every  nook  and  corner  pervious  to  its 
assault ;  the  signs  upon  the  stores  seemed  to  have  a  threatening 
scowl,  and  the  huge  fish  that  was  suspended  from  the  awning-post, 
as  a  significant  adjunct  to  the  name  of  Brad6roo£,  over  the  door, 
appeared  to  have  a  larger  mouth  than  usual,  as  if  the  unlucky  wight 
who  entered  the  store  that  day  would  incur  the  risk  of  being  *'  taken 


192  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

in"  as  summarily  as  Jonah  was  disposed  of  in  the  whale's  belly. 
A  warning  that  the  cash-box  and  acquisitiveness  of  Brzdbrook  were 
quite  equal  to  the  capacity  of  the  fish  that  took  such  a  fancy  to 
Jonah's  person  ;  with  this  material  difference,  however,  that  where 
as  the  whale  conscientiously  "gave  up"  Jonah,  after  reflecting  for 
three  days  upon  the  gross  impropriety  of  his  conduct ;  a  strict  re 
gard  for  justice  and  the  proprieties  of  life  which  Bradbrooks  never 
thought  of  imitating.  A  condition  of  things  that  might  have  been 
expected  in  a  house  where  losses  and  gains  meant  losses  by  the 
customer  and  gains  by  Bradbrooks. 

It  was  upon  the  night  of  such  a  day  as  this,  that  Kane  resolved 
to  stake  his  hopes  of  freedom.  He  was  anxiously  counting  the 
hours,  when  he  saw  the  officer  in  command  enter  that  part  of  the 
ship,  followed  by  Riley.  The  officer  cast  a  momentary  glance  at 
Robert,  and  was  passing  on,  when  Riley  said  in  a  fawning  tone — 

"  If  your  honor  pleases,  is  it  not  time  for  that  person  to  be  ironed 
again  ?  I  think  he  intends  to  escape." 

"  Who  ?» 

"  Him,"  pointing  at  Kane. 

"  Pooh  !  he  can  scarcely  walk." 

"  He's  agoing  to  give  you  the  slip,  I'm  sure  on't." 

The  officer  cast  a  searching  look  upon  Robert  Kane. 

"  Well,  tell  the  boatswain  to  iron  him  before  he  turns  in  to-night." 

"  Couldn't  he  do  it  now,  to  prevent  accidents'?" 

"No,  he  is  on  shore." 

"  I  think  I  could  do  it  myself,"  said  the  considerate  individual. 

"  Could  you  ?  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  inform  me  who  com 
mands  this  vessel,  you  or  me  ?" 

Riley  ca&t  his  eyes  to  the  floor.          -  .  . , 

"  Have  the  goodness  to  withdraw,  for  I  think  I  never  saw  so 
mean  a  looking  person  as  yourself." 

Riley  slunk  away  ;  but  before  he  mounted  the  ladder,  he  scowled 
upon  Robert  and  shook  his  finger  at  him  menacingly.  To  add  to 
the  dangers  that  gathered  round  him,  he  heard  the  officer  issue  or 
ders  for  the  vessel  to  be  got  under  weigh  for  the  Downs  that  night. 
Daylight— if  that  could  be  called  light  which  was  merely  the  haze 
of  a  London  atmosphere — had  disappeared,  and  darkness  shut  in, 
like  an  impenetrable  wall.  The  clock  struck  nine — ten — eleven. 
Still  Riley  hung,  like  an  evil  genius,  about  that  part  of  the  vessel 
occupied  by  Kane.  Robert  was  unable  to  conceal  his  uneasiness. 
Riley  observed  it,  and  it  afforded  him  intense  satisfaction. 

"  I  know  you  want  to  escape,  but  you  shan't,"  he  said,  approach 
ing  Kane  and  scowling  into  his  face. 

"  Why  do  you  annoy  me  with  your  presence  ?  Have  you  not 
already  persecuted  me  enough  V  said  the  other,  imploringly. 

"  No  !  I'll  stick  to  you  like  a  leech.  The  boatswain  will  soon 
be  here  ;  I  think  I  hear  him  corning  now.  Until  he  places  the 
handcuffs  upon  you,  I  shall  favor  you  with  my  company,"  replied 
Riley  with  a  ferocious  grin. 

The  clock  struck  twelve.  The  sound  of  oars  was  heard  ap 
proaching  ;  it  was  the  boatswain.  Riley  laughed  sardonically. 
There  was  something  insufferably  aggravating  in  his  .looks. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  19S 

Robert  Kane  suddenly  sprang  upon  him.  He  attempted  to  scream, 
but  Kane's  hand  grasped  his  throat  with  such  violence  that  his 
tongue  protruded  from  his  morth. 

"  Now,  what  prevents  me  from  slaying  you  like  a  dog  T' 

But  he  did  not.  Cramming  a  handkerchief  into  Ililey's  mouth, 
he  bound  his  hands  behind  him,  arid  then  pitching  him  into  a  corner, 
he  sprang  up  the  hatchway,  and  cautiously  approached  one  of  the 
port-holes.  It  was  the  wrong  part  of  the  ship  The  boatswain 
was  mounting  the  side,  and  his  lantern  flashed  full  upon  Kane's 
person.  Fortunately,  he  was  not  observed,  and  concealing  him 
self  beneath  the  cannon,  he  waited  until  his  movements  could  not 
be  observed.  Then  darting  to  the  other  side  he  dropped  into  the 
Thames.  The  cold  water  chilled  his  blood,  and  he  thought, he 
should  sink.  But  the  recollection  of  his  wife  and  children  nerved 
his  arm,  and  gave  new  vigor  to  his  frame.  Striking  boldly  out  for 
the  shore,  he  soon  placed  several  rods  between  him  and  pursuit. 
Hope  grew  brighter,  when  he  heard  the  voice  of  Riley  proclaiming 
his  escape.  Lights  were  visible  in  the  ship.  Orders  were  rapidly 
given,  and  several  boats  started  in  pursuit.  Turning  down  the 
stream,  he  managed  to  elude  the  party  sent  towards  that  shore  which 
he  was  endeavoring  to  gain.  He  now  slowly  approached  the  vast 
forest  of  masts  that  lined  the  bank.  His  strength  was  fast  desert 
ing  him.  For  every  yard  he  advanced  he  was  borne  down  two. 
Yet  manfully  he  struggled  on.  Voices  were  heard  descending  the 
river  ;  they  approached  nearer  and  nearer.  Then  lights  danced 
upon  the  water,  and  played,  as  if  in  mockery  of  his  suffering,  al 
most  upon  his  person,  when  he  glided  behind  the  stern  of  a  mer 
chantman.  The  boat  swept  past,  and  for  the  moment  he  was  safe. 
Making  his  tedious  way  between  the  vessels  that  lined  the  shore, 
he  at  length  reached  the  wharf.  And  now  the  difficult  task  re 
mained  of  ascending  to  the  street.  Thrice  he  attempted  it  with 
out  success.  Aware  that  he  was  only  exhausting  his  powers,  he 
nerved  his  limbs  for  one  vigorous  trial.  His  hands  clutched  the 
top  of  the  dock,  but  it  was  covered  with  ice  ;  desperately  he  held 
to  it ;  his  ringers  yielded,  and  he  sunk  with  a  faint  cry  into  the 
water.  He  had  scarcely  reached  it,  when  the  powerful  form  of  a 
sailor  plunged  in.  The  exhausted  sufferer  was  seized  as  he  sank, 
and  borne  to  the  side  of  a  ship.  A  voice  answered  the  call  of  the 
deliverer,  and  they  were  both  raised  to  the  deck  of  the  vessel. 
Robert  could  not  stand,  and  they  laid  him  in  a  hammock.  He  ex 
pressed  his  gratitude  by  pressing  the  hand  of  the  sailor. 

"  I'll  be  darned  tew  darnation  if  I  woulddent  eneemost  jump 
intew  the  Connecticut,  when  it  war  half  friz  over,  if  a  feller  bein' 
was  a  trien  so  aliired  hard  tew  keep  his  smellers  above  high-water 
mark,  as  you  war.  I  guess  yeou'd  feel  a  Icetle  more  comfortable  if 
them  clothes  of  yourn  were  off.  Here's  a  sweet,  as  the  Kennucks 
say,  when  they  want  more'n  one  room  in  a  tavern.  They're  mine — 
Ezekiel  Beiknap,  at  your  service — yeou  can  hev  them  jist  as  long 
as  yeou  please  ;  allers,  if  yeou  like.''' 

Robert  Kane  said  he  would   avail  himself  of  the  offer. 
t    "  That's  jist  exactly  right.     Let  me  help  you  off  with  your'n." 

"  But  you  are  wet  yourself,''  said  Robert,  faintly. 


194  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  A  sailor  is  accustomed  to  that.  I  guess  yeou  giv  somebody 
the  slip  to-night." 

Robert  did  not  know  whether  to  confide  in  the  sailor  or  not. 
The  latter  observed  his  hesitation, 

"Yon  needdent  be  afeard  I'll  blab.  We  Yankees  hevent  the 
almightiest  love  for  your  government,  any  way  you  can  fix  it.  The 
pesky  critters  are  a  conjering  and  a  tryin'  all  the  hull  time  to  upset 
us.  They  do'nt  want  us — now  put  on  the  jacket — to  get  no  more 
sile,  when  the  hull  world  knows  we  can't  giv  hums  to  them  as  haz- 
zent  any  here,  and  never  can  hev,  unless  we  set  our  stakes  over 
agin.  We  must  hev  Mexico;  and  them  Canadas  of  hern  won't  be 
worth  a  cuss,  until  we  hev  'em,  which  we're  bound  to  dew. — Now 
slip  on  my  shoes. — So  yeou  may  tell  me  the  whole  story." 

It  was  so  grateful  to  his  feelings  to  meet  one  human  being  who 
was  not  his  foe,  and  that  person  not  an  Englishman  !  And  he  con 
fided  his  story  to  the  sailor. 

"  I'll  be  crucified  heels  upward,  on  a  tamarack  or  moosemissy, 
either  one  or  t'other,  if  that  ain't  eneemost  the  hardest  case  I  ever 
herne  tell  of.  But  you  diddent  list,  though?" 

"  No,  I  would  have  died  first." 

"  That's  the  right  grit.  Neow  I  can  tell  veou  the  best 
thing  to  be  done.  Dooze  your  wife  know  what  has  become  of 
yeou." 

"  I  think  she  does." 

"  Wall,  this  ship— the  Nancy  Ann — sails  for  New  York  in  one 
week.  She  won't  carry  many  passengers.  Yeou  must  bring 
yeour  family  on  board  the  night  afore." 

"  A  thousand  thanks,  my  kind  friend,  but  the  kidnappers  robbed 
me  of  the  last  penny  I  had  on  earth." 

"  Wall,  want  of  money  sha'nt  prevent  yeou  from  reaching  a  land 
of  liberty,  anyhow  yeou  can  fix  it.  I'll  pay  your  passage  myself 
fust.  But  no  fear  of  that.  Captain  Chauncey  Smith  goes  the  hull 
hog  when  his  dander's  riz.  Besides,  there's  scarcity  of  hands,  and 
bein'  a  stout  chap,  you  can  work  your  passage,  after  you  get  more 
strength." 

And  so  it  was  arranged  that  Kane  should  bring  his  family  on 
board  the  "  Nancy  Ann"  the  evening  before  siie  sailed.  To  avoid 
the  danger  of  being  seized  again,  it  was  agreed  that  Ezekiel  Bel- 
knap  should  communicate  the  joyful  intelligence  to  the  wife  of 
Kane  on  Hie  following  day.  Their  plans  being  all  arranged, 
Robert  partook  of  a  warm  supper,  prepared  by  his  new  friend,  and 
then,  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  happiness,  he  fell  asleep,  to 
dream  of  the  rescue  of  his  wife  and  his  little  ones  from  worse  than 
African  bondage. 

The  next  morning  Ezekiel  Belkuap  started  for  the  home  of 
Robert  Kane.  His  heart  was  light,  for  he  was  conscious  of  doing  a 
kind  act  ;  and,  regardless  of  the  attention  he  attracted,  he  whistled 
yankee  doodle  with  the  utmost  vigor,  now  and  then  accompanying 
it  with  a  rub-a-dub  upon  an  imaginary  drum. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  195 


CHAPTER  XX. 

"  I  did  but  prompt  the  age  to  quit  their  clogs, 
By  the  known  rules  of  ancient  liberty, 
When  straight  a' barbarous  noise  environs  me, 
Of  owls  and  cuckoos,  asses,  apes,  and  dogs." — MILTON. 

LORD  MELVILLE  was  seated  in  the  dressing  room  of  his  mother, 
at  the  paternal  mansion,  in  London.  He  had  been  in  the  city  only 
a  week,  and  the  Duchess  availed  herself  of  the  earliest  opportunity 
to  make  some  suggestions  as  to  his  conduct  for  the  season.  That 
estimable  female  did  not  regard  it  as  indispensable  to  prescribe  a 
plan  of  operations  for  more  than  one  season. 

"  Charles,"  she  softly  uttered. 

"Madam." 

"  Don't  be  so  formal,  Charles.  I  can  hardly  reconcile  it  to  my 
painfully  severe  sense  of  propriety,  to  admit  a  person  into  my 
dressing-room  whom  but  a  few  weeks  ago  I  regarded  as  a  stranger. 
I  can  never  hear  the  duke  approach  this  secluded  apartment  with 
out  a  thrill  of  fear,  unless  you  take  more  pains  to  make  me  feel  he 
is  your  father,  and  that  I  am  your  mother." 

Melville  smiled. 

"  Charles,  you  are  in  a  new  world  ;  and  it  cannot  be  supposed 
you  are  familiar  with  its  regulations  ;  you  will,  therefore,  listen  to 
one  whe  has  seen  much  of  society." 

He  bowed. 

"  You  will  prepare  yourself  for  all  sorts  of  advances,  from  all 
kinds  of  people.  The  Jeremy  Diddlers  will  have  designs  upon 
your  purse  ;  the  politicians  upon  your  influence  ;  and  mammas, 
who  have  marriageable  daughters,  upon  your  person.  You  will, 
of  course,  disregard  them  all.  The  Diddlers  always  ;  the  politi 
cians  until  you  enter  parliament,  and  the  mammas  for  this  season. 
You  are  too  young  to  marry.  Early  marriages  have  a  tendency 
to  destroy  those  remarkably  fine  proportions  foi  which  the  nobility 
are  celebrated.  Besides,  you  will  require  one  season  to  make  a 
choice.  Now  there  is  Kate  Montague,  a  remarkably  fine  girl,  only 
she  is  too  charitable.  She  was  good  enough  for  the  young  man  I 
thought  my  son  (poor  fellow,  I  wonder  where  he  is)." 

"  She  is  good  enough  for  the  best  man  in  all  England,"  said 
Melville,  enthusiastically. 

"  I  will  not  deny  that  she  is  an  excellent  girl.  Her  form  is  ex 
quisite,  as  I  have  reason  to  know  ;  her  health  is  perfect,  though 
she  was  rather  pale  when  I  saw  her  last.  But  she  is  not  the 
daughter  of  a  peer  of  the  highest  rank,  nor  does  the  blood  of  roy 
alty  flow  in  her  veins.  She  will  do,  if  nothing  better  can  be  accom 
plished  ;  you  understand,  Charles." 

"I  do." 


198  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

"  Now  for  this  season  you  must  only  study  the  chances,  notwith 
standing  the  attentions  with  which  you  will  be  favored.  Do  not 
suffer  your  affections  to  be  entrapped.  I  must  impress  this  matter 
upon  your  attention  with  greater  pertinacity,  because  young  men 
who  have  not  been  accustomed  to  the  language  of  flattery,  yield  a 
willing  ear  to  its  seductions.  And  especially  beware  of  beautiful, 
but  poor  girls,  whose  only  attractions  are  fine  complexions,  beauti 
ful  eyes,  and  well-developed  busts,  which  they  disclose  with  great 
liberality.  You  must  have  a  wealthy  bride,  for  the  revenues  of  our 
estate  are  scarcely  sufficient  for  our  owji  wants  ;  and  although  you 
are  not  so  extravagant  as  that  young  man  was,  still  you  expend 
more  in  charities,  and  I  do  not  know  which  is  the  most  reprehen 
sible.  You  must  marry  a  wealthy  girl ;  and  here  I  wish  to  impress 
a  fact  upon  your  mind  so  forcibly  that  you  will  never  forget  it.  I 
know  twenty  young  ladies  who  can  not  only  boast  of  fine  com 
plexions,  beautiful  eyes,  and  well-developed  busts,  which,  by  the 
way,  they  do  not  disclose,  but  of  enormous  wealth  and  high  rank." 

"  If  they  do  not  disclose  their  busts,  am  I  to  ascertain  whether 
they  are  well-developed,  or  made  up  of  cotton  after  the  plan  adopted 
by  Lord  Macdonald  in  the  case  of  Lady  Templeton  ?" 

"  How  was  that?" 

u  By  thrusting  a  pin  into  the  cotton,  its  full  length,  without  caus 
ing  pain." 

"  Fie  !  for  shame,  Charles  ;  he  slandered  Lady  Templeton." 

"  Perhaps  so." 

"  I  believe  I  have  said  ail  I  desired,"  replied  her  grace,  leaning 
back  in  her  chair,  veiy  much  exhausted  by  her  speech,  and  exces 
sively  thankful  that  her  maternal  duties  were  discharged. 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  my  too  susceptible  affections  are  to 
be  overpowered  by  none  other  than  a  lady  who  possesses  wealth, 
rank,  health,  and  beauty  T' 

"  Of  course,"  replied  the  duchess,  languidly. 

"  Will  my  conduct  be  considered  reprehensible  if  I  fall  in  love 
with  a  maiden  who  does  not  possess  rank "?" 

"  Can  you  doubt  it,  my  son?" 

"  What  does  this  thing  called  rank  amount  to  T' 

"  Every  thing,  except  health,  beauty,  and  wealth." 

"  Now  let  us  see  if  it  is  not  the  most  worthless  trifle  that  ever 
deluded  poor,  weak  human  nature.  The  baronet  is  proud,  yet  he 
is  inferior  in  rank  to  the  earl  ;  the  earl  is  haughty,  yet  he  looks  up 
to  the  marquis  ;  the  marquis  bears  himself  loftily,  still  he  must  yield 
precedence  to  the  duke  ;  the  duke  looks  down  upon  the  earl,  yet 
bows  most  humbly  to  royalty.  And  what  is  royalty  but  frail,  perish 
able  humanity,  that  trembles  at  the  approach  of  death,  and  whose 
spirit  will  be  awed  in  the  presence  of  angels  !  Travel  along  the 
avenue  of  social  life  until  you  reach  that  class,  who,  destitute  of 
rank,  make  an  idol  of  fashion.  What  do  all  their  heart-burnings 
and  struggles  for  pre-eminence  amount  to1?  In  the  effort  to  out 
shine  each  other  (for  .at  best  it  is  but  a  show  of  tinsel)  in  the  pur 
chase  of  gaudy  equipages,  and  flashy  dresses  and  furniture,  fortunes 
as  well  as  reputations  are  often  squandered.  An  energetic  woman 
forces  her  way  along  the  high  road  of  fashion  (fashion  !  how  have 


AND  AMERICA^  SLAVERY.  197 

they  disgraced  you  !),  yearly  dropping  off  the  least  fashionable,  as 
she  designates  those  who  are  often  the  most  respectable  of  her  ac 
quaintances  ;  and  whom,  hy  the  way,  she  fawned  upon  and  begged 
to  return  her  calls  one  year  ago.  "  At  last  she  sees  but  two  sets 
ahead  of  her  ;  the  Jimses,  who  are  avowedly  at  the  head  of  Lon 
don  fashion,  and  the  Prowties,  who  take  position  next  to  them, 
She  strives  desperately  to  eclipse  the  Jimses  and  the  Prowties,  but 
unavailingly.  And  who  are  the  Jimses,  who  stand,  like  Banquo's 
ghost,  in  her  path  ?  Some  thirteen  years  ago  they  disgraced  them 
selves  by  harrassing  the  dying  moments  of  their  father,  in  order  to 
make  him  disinherit  a  brother  and  sister  that  their  own  coffers 
might  be  replenished.  They  propped  the  old  man  up  in  bed,  with 
a  board  in  front  and  pillows  behind,  while  the  son-in-law  '  took  a 
race  with  death,''  as  it  was  judicially  termed,  for  the  purpose  of  see 
ing  whether  the  grim  monster  could  enfold  the  dying  man  in  his 
grasp  before  he  could  prepare  a  will  which  was  to  put  money  in  his 
pockets,  and  those  of  other  leaders  of  fashionable  society,  by  the 
cheating  process  of  swindling  the  blood  relations  of  the  poor,  har- 
rassed,  and  dying  old  man  !  Then,  too,  was  presented  the  painful 
spectacle  of  the  lawyer  '  running  up  the  steps ;'  not  to  alleviate 
pain — not  to  prolong  life,  but  to  have  the  '  unconscious  signature1 
of  the  dying  man  affixed  to  the  fraudulent  instrument :  thus  disgrac 
ing,  while  it^put  money  in  the  pockets  of  the  leaders  of  fashionable 
society  !  Then  was  the  rapid  reading  of  that  same  instrument  more 
rapidly  concluded  when  the  conscientious  lawyer  saw  that  the  fea 
tures  of  the  victim  were  distorted  with  pain  !  Then  the  death-rattle 
mingled  with  smothered  exultations,  when  that  deed  of  unmitigated 
rascality  was  consummated,  which  dishonored  while  it  enriche°d  the 
leaders  of  fashionable  society  !  Notwithstanding  the  ineffaceable 
stamp  of  infamy  was  affixed  by  that  transaction  to  the  characters 
of  the  Jimses,  still  the  ambitious  Mrs.  Woodle  is  dying  of  envy 
because  she  cannot  rival  them.  What  a  pitiful  ambition"" 

"  My  dear  son,"  interrupted  the  \Duchess  with  a  yawn,  "  what 
can  tempt  you  to  devote  so  much  time  to  trades-people,  retired  gro 
cers,  and  the  descendants  of  coopers  and  shoemakers  ?  What 
have  I  to  do  with  such  scurf?  The  most  fashionable— fashionable  ? 
faugh  .'—among  them  are  not  the  equals  (socially)  of  our  common 
est  baronets.  Don't  suffer  your  thoughts  to  dwell  upon  the  scum 
of  earth.  Their  claim  to  pre-eminence  is  illustrated  by  an  anec 
dote,  which  is  related  of  the  wife  of  a  retired  tradesman.  Her 
mind  had  been  absorbed  by  religious  subjects  for  fifteen  years,  when 
her  daughter  was  old  enough  to  *  bring  out,'  as  they  call  it.  She 
issued  cards  for  a  large  party  and  placed  them  in  the  hands  of  a 
fellow  named  Brown,  who,  I  have  been  told,  buries  dead  people  and 
makes  the  reputations  of  the  living  ;  that  is,  among  the  common 
people.  The  next  day  this  fellow,  Brown,  returned  the  cards  with 
the  remark  that  more  than  half  the  persons  she  wanted  him  to  in 
vite  were  dead  and  buried  a  dozen  years  before,  and  that  he  ought 
to  know,  as  burying  people  was  in  his  line  of  business.  Think 
only  of  an  alliance  with  the  noblest  in  the  land,  my  dear  Charles." 

"  High  or  low,  rich  or  poor,  it  is  all  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit, 


198  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

for  us  Sir  Charles  Coldstream  is  made  to  say,  '  there's  nothing  in 
itS     My  determination  is  immovable.     I  shall  never  marry." 

"  Wait  till  Katharine  Montague  has  brought  her  fascinations  to 
bear  upon  you,  before  you  express  yourself  too  confidently." 

Melville  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  You  don't  know  her.  She  has  rejected  half  the  desirable  beaux 
in  London." 

The  servant  here  announced  Sir  William  Belthoven. 

"  You  must  entertain  him,  Charles  ;  he  is  only  a  member  of  par 
liament,  but  he  is  a  politician.  Beware  of  him." 

"  Never  fear  but  I  will  be  upon  my  guard." 

Melville  welcomed  Sir  William  with  something  more  than  his 
usual  cordiality.  Perhaps  it  was  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Baronet 
had  more  of  the  countryman  in  his  appearance  than  he  had  seen 
since  his  arrival  in  the  metropolis. 

"  I  called  with  the  hope  that  you  are  disengaged  to-night,''  said 
the  Baronet. 

"  I  am  at  your  service." 

"  Well,  I  have  secured  seats  at  St.  James'  theatre." 

u  I  will  gladly  accompany  you." 

"  Then  we  will  proceed  at  once.     My  carnage  is  at  the  door." 

"  If  it  is  not  too  far,  I  should  prefer  walking." 

"  No ;  we  can  arrive  there  in  time." 

And  descending  into  the  street,  Sir  William  ordered  his  coach 
man  to  meet  him  at  the  theatre  at  the  termination  of  the  perform 
ance,  and  the  two  gentlemen  proceeded  thither. 

The  streets  were  brilliantly  lighted,  and  Melville  observed  the 
shops  and  the  crowd  with  much  interest.  At  length  his  attention 
was  arrested  by  an  individual  who  stalked  before  them.  His 
weather-beaten  hat  had  received  all  the  polish  of  which  it  was 
capable,  but  owing  to  divers  bruises  it  had  manifestly  encountered 
in  the  course  of  a  protracted  existence,  it  hung  down  with  a  dis 
consolate  churlishness.  To  obviate  this  defect,  it  was  cocked  jaunt 
ily  upon  one  side  of  his  head,  so  that  a  person,  inclined  to  scruti 
nize  that  once  respectable  beaver,  would  be  at  a  loss  to  determine 
whether  the  crown  occupied  a  horizontal  position,  or  whether  the 
rim  was  made  to  assume  at  attitude  at  once  fierce  and  facetious. 
His  brown  coat  had  apparently  done  its  owner  "some  service,"  for 
the  warp  and  filling  could  be  easily  seen  by  the  gas-light,  while  the 
obtrusive  elbows  had  succeeded  in  obtaining,  at  first,  faint  glimpses 
of  surrounding  objects — as  a  school-girl  peeps  through  her  lattice — 
and  then  an  uninterrupted  view  of  all  sublunary  tilings.  A  white 
collar,  that  had  the  appearance  of  sustaining  his  ears,  was  confined 
to  his  neck  by  a  somewhat  faded  plaid  handkerchief;  but  it  is  with 
sincere  regret  we  are  forced  to  express  the  opinion  that  said  col 
lar  had  no  connection  whatever  with  either  cotton  or  linen,  as  the 
double-breasted  vest  was  buttoned  with  scrupulous  care  from  his 
waist  to  his  chin.  The  blue  pants  had  hitherto  resisted  every  at 
tempt  made  by  his  enterprising  knees  to  acquire  a  more  familiar 
knowledge  of  the  outer  world.  He  had  recently  examined  that 
portion  of  his  nether  garments  with  an  anxious  eye,  and  the  truth 
flashed  upon  him  with  an  unpleasant  distinctness,  that  the  conflict 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  199 

between  cloth  and  bone  would  soon  disastrously  terminate.  He 
had  formerly  indulged  in  the  luxury  of  straps  to  his  pantaloons,  but 
they  had  been  thrown  aside  the  moment  the  idea  occurred  to  his 
mind  that  they  increased  the  friction  upon  his  knees,  and  conse 
quently  would  accelerate  the  catastrophe  which  he  so  much  dread 
ed.  The  walk  of  Mr.  Theophilus  Ruxton— for  by  that  name  was 
this  individual  known— was  stately  and  self-possessed.  He  con 
sidered  it  eminently  undignified  to  hasten  along  the  street  with  the 
speed  of  a  lawyer  or  a  shop-keeper.  It  pleased  him  to  cast  cour 
teous  glances  at  the  aristocratic  beauties  who  promenaded  the 
street,  and  if  a  carriage  of  more  than  ordinary  splendor  dashed 
along,  he  surveyed  the  establishment  with  a  critical,  yet  patronizing 
look.  One  hand  rested  contentedly  in  a  pocket  of  his  coat,  while 
the  other  was  gloved  with  kid,  the  original  color  of  which  could 
only,  by  a  violent  resort  to  supposition,  be  determined.  Thus  at 
tired,  Mr.  Theophilus  Ruxton  slowly  preceded  Melville  and  his 
companion.  The  nobleman  called  Sir  William's  attention  to  the 
singular  figure,  whose  movements  never  failed  to  produce  a  smile 
upon  the  features  of  the  most  gloomy. 

Mr.  Ruxton  arrested  his  steps  in  front  of  St.  James7  theatre,  and 
drawing  forth  a  hand-glass,  the  highly-polished  brass  rims  of  which 
were  made  to  resemble  gold,  he  proceeded  to  examine  the  bill,  cast 
ing,  at  the  same  time,  side-long  glances  at  each  person  who  en 
tered  the  theatre.  Melville  and  the  Baronet  remained  upon  the 
side-walk,  scrutinizing  the  appearance  of  the  stranger.  Mr.  Rux 
ton  observed  them,  and  raising  his  beaver,  he  bowed  gracefully  as 
he  advanced  towards  them. 

"A  charming  bill  to-night,  gentlemen  ;  the  benefit  of  an  excel 
lent  manager  and  a  worthy  gentleman  ;  one  who  is  contributing  in 
no  small  degree  to  our  amusement." 

The  gentlemen  advanced  towards  the  door. 

44  Ana  I  deceived  in  supposing  you  extended  to  myself  an  invita 
tion  to  witness  the  performance  ?"  said  Mr.  Ruxton,  with  a  bland 
smile. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  He  is  an  original,  Melville.  I  am  not  aware  that  any 
invitation  of  the  kind  was  extended.  If  you  are  desirous  how 
ever,  of  witnessing  the  play,  here  are  two  shillings.  I  presume 
you  have  no  objection  to  entering  the  family  circle." 

"  I  have  a  most  decided  objection,"  said  Mr.  Ruxton,  with  an 
offended  air.  I  never  make  my  appearance  anywhere  else  than 
in  the  dress  circle  ;"  and  he  surveyed  his  well-brushed  coat  with 
a  glance  of  the  utmost  complacency. 

"  Oh,  very  well,  here  is  a  crown  ;  you  shall  not  be  disappointed  " 
1  hank  you,  sir.     1  will  accept  the  loan  of  this  sum,  because  I 
have  no  small  bills  with  me;  but   with  the  distinct  understanding 
that  it  must  be  returned.     I  cannot  receive   it  upon  any  other  con 
dition." 

"  Certainly,  Mr. — Mr.—" 

"Mr.  Theopholus  Ruxton,  I  shall  consider  if  a  favor  if  you  will 
receive  my  card— bui— really— I  am  so  unfortunate  as  not  to  have 
one  with  me— singular— but  I  hope  you  will  excuse  me  ?" 

"  Those  little  mistakes  will  occur  with  the  most  aristocratic  " 


200  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"Ah,  I  see  you  can  appreciate  the  embarrassment  of  a  gentle 
man,  Mr. — Mr.—" 

"  Sir  William  Belthoven." 

*  Have  I  the  inexpressible  felicity  of  addressing  that  illustrious 
gentleman  ;  nay  more,  the  happiness  to  receive  a  temporary  loan 
from  him.  Theopholus  Rnxton,  you  are  more  than  ordinarily  for 
tunate  !  Sir  William,  if  I  can  assist  you,  either  in  your  contests 
before  the  people,  or  in  carrying  any  favorite  measure  through  the 
house,  I  trust  you  will  not  hesitate  to  command  my  services." 

"I  shall  avail  myself  of  your  generous  offer  with  the  warmest 
gratitude,"  replied  the  baronet. 

"  Sir  William  Belthoven,  good  night." 

"Good  night,  Mr.  Ruxton." 

And  that  individual  succeeded,  with  some  difficulty,  in  raising 
his  beaver  without  betraying  its  dilapidated  condition/ 

''  The  good  opinion  of  a  dog  is  preferable  to  his  ill-will,  you 
know,"  observed  Sir  William  Belthoven,  as  he  conducted  Lord 
Melville  into  the  theatre. 

The  proceeds  were  for  the  "  benefit  of  the  manager."  The 
propriety  of  which  annunciation  cannot  be  easily  discovered,  as  the 
net  proceeds  generally  find  their  way  into  his'  pockets,  though  it 
was  rather  more  consistent  with  common  sense  than  the  bills  of  a 
juggler,  the  sole  performer  at  his  entertainments,  which  invited  the 
community  to  attend  his  benefit. 

St.  James's  Theatre  was  crowded  to  excess.  There  were  many 
representatives  of  the  English  nobility  present,  arid  as  the  baronet 
directed  the  attention  of  his  companion  to  them,  Melville  was  fain 
to  admit  that  his  mother  had  not  over-estimated  the  physical  at 
tractions  of  the  aristocracy. 

"  In  the  box  to  the  extreme  left  sits  George  of  Cambridge,  who 
aspired  to  the  hand  of  her  Majesty,  until  her  affections  were  won 
by  the  portly  figure  of  the  German  prince.  By  his  side  is  the 
relict  of  Earl  Moncton.  You  perceive,  by  her  frisky  actions,  that 
she  has  not  been  a  widow  long  enough  to  feel  comfortable.  In  the 
adjoining  box  is  the  Duke  of  Bom  ford,  renowned  for  his  magnificent 
parties  and — nothing  else.  He  believes  that  the  intellect  and  so 
cial  standing  of  a  person  are  measured  by  the  length  of  his  mous 
tache.". 

"  Then  the  keeper  of  a  gambling-house  I  met  to-day  ought,  to  be 
a  prodigy  of  wisdom  and  fashion,  for  he  wore  the  longest  mous 
tache  I  ever  saw,"  said  Lord  Melville. 

"Ah  !  yonder  is  an  acquaintance  of  ours." 

"  Where  ?" 

"  In  the  box  opposite  to  the  one  occupied  by  George  of  Cam 
bridge." 

Melville's  glance  followed  the  direction  indicated  by  the  baronet, 
and  his  eyes  met  Katharine  Montague.  Her  look  was  frigid,  as 
they  exchanged  formal  bows,  while  her  recognition  of  the  baronet 
was  exceedingly  gracious. 

"  There  now  is  the  most  fascinating  lady  in  the  English  peer 
age.  Witty,  well-informed,  lovely,  and  charitable.  With  a  wife 
like  that  I  would  defy  competition  upon  the  hustings." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  201 

f  "Why  do  you  not  make  the  attempt  to  win  her?"  asked  Mel 
ville  in  a  hoarse  voice. 

"  The  truth  is,  I  am  not  a  marrying  man  !" 

The  truth  was,  he  had  been  rejected  by  the  maiden  twice. 

The  young  Duke  of  Gildermear  entered  the  box  where  Katha 
rine  Montague  was  seated.  He  was  received  by  the  lady  with 
marked  affability.  Melville  could  not  withdraw  his  glance  from 
her  animated  countenance.  She  saw  his  eyes  were  riveted  upon 
her,  and  she  redoubled  her  efforts  to  fascinate  the  Duke.  She  evi 
dently  succeeded,  for  he  did  not  leave  the  box  during  the  perform 
ance. 

When  the  curtain  fell  upon  the  last  scene,  Melville  and  the 
baronet  emerged  from  the  theatre  into  the  vestibule.  They 
encountered  there  Katharine  Montague  and  the  Duke  of  Gilder 
mear,  who  was  still  by  her  side. 

"  Sir  William  Belthoven,  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  she  said,  cor 
dially  extending  her  hand.  "  What  news  do  you  bring  from  the 
country  ?" 

"  Lamentations  at  your  absence,"  said  the  baronet. 

"Always  prepared  with  a  delicate  compliment." 

"  Only  when  some  extraordinary  occasion  like  the  present  in 
spires  it.  But,  I  beg  your  pardon,  you  do  not  recognize  an  old 
acquaintance  ;"  and  stepping  aside,  Melville  and  the  lady  stood 
face  to  face. 

No  passing  emotion  was  observable  on  the  countenance  of  the 
maiden,  as  she  said — 

"  Lord  Melville,  late  Christie  Kane,  I  believe  ;  I  think  I  have 
met  your  lordship  before  T'  she  said,  taking  the  Duke's  arm. 

"Madam,  I  am  highly  flattered  by  the  unexpected  and  unsought 
recognition  of  a  lady  celebrated  as  you  are  reputed  to  be  for  refined 
manners,  candor,  and  truth." 

With  a  haughty  inclination  of  his  head,  Lord  Melville  mingled 
with  the  crowd  who  were  leaving  the  theatre.  The  adieus  of  Bel 
thoven  were  spoken  with  his  accustomed  blandness,  and  then  they 
entered  the  baronet's  carnage.  As  the  door  closed,  Belthoven  saw 
an  acquaintance  approaching. 

"  My  Lord,  you  must  let  me  introduce  that  person  to  you.  He 
is  an  American  member  of  congress.  You  will  like  him." 

"  Gentlemen;  you  must  sup  with  me  to-night,"  said  Melville, 
after  he  was  introduced  to  the  American. 

They  protested  it  was  too  late. 

"  Both  politicians,  and  make  that  answer,"  said  Melville. 
"  As  you  will.  To  the  residence  of  the  Duchess  of  Sunderland, 
James." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

After  they  had  supped,  they  entered  the  library. 

"  I  suppose  you  smoke,  Mr.  Jones ;  Sir  William,  I  know, 
does." 

"  Yes,  in  the  city,"  said  the  baronet. 

"  And  why  not  in  the  country  ?" 

*'  Policy  forbids.  Some  of  my  influential  constituents  do  not  like 
it.  They  say  it  is  a  wasteful  extravagance  ;  and  one  of  them 

10 


202  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

hinted  that  my  principles  might  evaporate  as  easily  as  the  smoke 
of  my  cigar,  if  1  had  no  more  regard  for  public  than  I  had  for  pri 
vate  economy." 

"  What  is  to  he  the  prominent  question  before  parliament  this 
winter1?"  asked  Mr.  Jones. 

"  We  hope  to  make  the  subject  of  American  slavery  the  grea* 
question." 

"  What  folly, " 

"How  so?" 

"  You  ought  to  direct  your  attention  to  the  wants  of  your  own 
people  first." 
k   "  And  desert  the  cause  of  the  poor  slave  ?•" 

"  Gentlemen,  as  it  is  only  midnight,"  said  Lord  Melville,  "  let  us 
devote  a  few  minutes  to  the  absorbing  question  of  American 
slavery.  It  would  give  me  much  pleasure  to  hear  the  opinions  of 
an  American  senator  upon  the  subject." 

"  There  is  a  great  deal  said  about  the  horrible  condition  of  Amer 
ican  slaves,"  replied  Mr.  Jones.  "  Evils  that  are  necessarily  con 
nected  with  slavery,  here  and  in  the  United  States,  must  be  exam 
ined  by  comparison.  Applying  to  them  that  test,  let  us  see  if 
there  are  not  strong  grounds  for  palliating  African  slavery,,  if  we 
cannot  justify  it,  notwithstanding  the  anathemas  that  are  launched 
against  the  institution  by  the  liberty-loving  aristocracy  of  the  Bri 
tish  empire.  Now  then  for  the  comparison  ;  for  I  repeat  it  is  by 
this  rule,  alone,  that  the  relative  merits  and  demerits  of  the  two 
systems  can  be  ascertained.  There  are  no  people  so  clamorous  in 
the  cause  of  the  slaves  as  yourselves,  and  I  shall  compare  their 
condition  with  that  of  your  peasantry.  1  believe  the  facts  will  sus 
tain  me  in  the  assertion,  that  the  former  are  happier  than  an  equal 
number  of  the  latter — especially  your  parish  apprentices." 

"You  are  surely  jesting,"  said  Belthoven. 

"  I  was  never  more  serious.  The  African  adapts  himself  with 
greater  readiness  to  circumstances  than  the  white  man  ;  is  naturally 
more  cheerful  ;  and  you  may  say  his  happiness  is  traceable  to 
those  causes — and  it  is  so  to  a  certain  degree — but  it  is  also  attri 
butable  to  an  abundant  supply  of  wholesome  food,  the  absence  of 
care,  and  an  easy  life." 

"  An  easy  life  !     Come  now,  I  like  that,"  replied  the  baronet. 

"  I  know  it  is  difficult  for  an  Englishman,  accustomed  to  witness 
suffering  in  its  most  revolting  aspects,  to  believe  that  slaves  are  a 
happy  and  contented  race.  It  is  not  necessary  to  examine  their 
condition  to  be  assured  of  the  fact.  Indeed,  it  is  demonstrated  in 
Dickens'  Household  Words." 

"In  Charles  Dickens'  Household  Words'?"  exclaimed  Sir 
William. 

"  Precisely  so  ;  and  I  presume  you  will  hardly  accuse  him  of 
being  a  defender  of  slavery.  Here  is  what  he  said,  among  other 
things,  in  an  elaborate  review  of  the  slavery  question,  in  a  num 
ber  of  that  interesting  periodical,  which  I  have  in  my  pocket. 

"  '  It  is  pleasanter  to  think  of  slaves  in  Cuba  flying  before  blood 
hounds,  than  to  know  that  the  slaves  of  North  America  learn  to 
identify  themselves  with  their  masters,  and  to  lie  down  contented 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  208 

with  their  place  among  farm  animals,  because  they  are  well  fed  ; 
and  that  in  the  year  1850,  out  of  three  million  slaves  only  a  thou 
sand  fled  away  in  search  of  liberty  ;  the  greater  part  even  of  that 
thousand  seeking  not  liberty  for  its  own  sake,  but  as  a  means  of 
escape  from  the  punishments  incurred  by  theft  and  other  crime.' 

'  He  also  states  in  the  review  that  there  were  in  the  parish  of 
St.  James 

'  Ten  or  fifteen  negroes  who  had  laid  by  more  than  enough  to 
purchase  freedom,  but  who  would  not  purchase  it.  One  of  them, 
when  questioned  on  the  subject,  answered  :  I  am  well-treated  and 
not  over-worked  ;  if  I  am  sick,  I  am  attended  to.  If  my  wife 
bring  me  a  child,  they  rear  it.  When  I  become  old,  I  shall  be 
allowed  to  rest  —  and  would  you  have  me  quit  all  this  for  an  uncer 
tain  future.' 

"  Further  on,  he  says  : 

'  It  is  the  greatest  horror  of  the  slave  system  to  our  minds, 
when  men  can  live  contented  under  so  complete  an  abnegation  of 
their  manhood.  Born  to  the  system,  bred  to  the  system  ;  degraded, 
by  being  set  to  labor  in  sight  of  a  whip,  like  brutes;  so  working 
on  a  motive  against  which  a  well-bred  brute  comes  to  rebel  _  tlion* 
sands  of  negroes  are  content  to  be  well  fed  and  housed,  occasionally 
patted  on  the  head  or  played  with,  and  when  their  master  finds  it 
needful  to  reduce  his  stock,  part,  with  a  mere  transitory  brutish 
pang,  from  a  contented  wife  in  Maryland,  perhaps,  to  lie  down  con 
tent,  with  a  new  wife,  in  a  new  stall,  in  Tennessee.' 

"  One  more  paragraph,  and  I  have  done  with  Dickens'  article. 

'  In  truth,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  the  free  Americans, 
the  very  abolitionists  themselves,  are  stout  supporters  of  the  slave 
system,  in  act,  whatever  they  may  be  in-  theory.  In  the  free  states 
of  America,  the  negro  is  no  less  forced  clown  out  of  his  just  posi 
tion  as  a  man  than  where  he  works  under  the  planter's  whip. 
Even  in  an  English  drawing-room-,  the  American  who  meets  by 
chance  a  guest  with  negro  blood  marked  in  his  forehead,  feels  like 
a  cat  upon  whose  domain  some  strange  dog  has  intruded,  and  is 
not  easily  restrained,  by  the  rules  of  English  courtesy,  from 
spitting.' 

"  Now,  Sir  William,  from  the.  facts  here  stated  by  Dickens,  I 
shall  draw  some  conclusions,  and 

First.  That  the  condition  of  a  free  negro  is  quite  as  degraded  as 
that  of  a  slave,  because  he  is  '  forced  down  out  of  his  just  position 
as  a  man,'  which  I  assume  to  be  about  as  cutting  an  allusion 
to  abolition  hypocrisy  as  the  English  language  is  capable  of 
expressing. 

4i  The  fair  inference  can  be  drawn  from  this  statement,  that  the 
American  abolitionists  must  elevate  the  negro  so  far  in  the  social 
scale  as  to  meet  him  in  a  drawing-room  without  feelino-  inclined  to 
spit. 

"  Second.  That  they  would  not,  in  the  cases  mentioned  by  him, 
purchase  their  liberty,  although  they  possessed  the  power  ;  conclu 
sive  evidence  that  they  prefer  bondage  to  the  state  of  social  out- 
M-wry  which  they  are  required  to  submit  to  in  the  free  states. 

"  Third.  That  they  are  so  well  satisfied  with  their  condition, 


not- 


204  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

withstanding  the  quantity  of  tears — crocadile  as  well  as  pearly — 
which  are  shed  over  it  annually  ;  that  out  of  the  one  thousand  who 
effected  their  escape  in  1850,  the  *  greater  part'  sought  liberty 
*  not  for  its  own  sake?  but  as  a  *  means  of  escape  from  the  punish 
ment  incurred  by  theft  and  other  crimes? 

"  Fourth.  He  is  so  well  satisfied  with  slavery,  that  he  parts  with 
a  mere  transitory,  brutish  pang,  from  a  contented  wife  in  Maryland, 
perhaps,  to  lie  down  content  with  a  new  wife,  in  a  new  stall  in  Ten 
nessee." 

An  unanswerable  refutation  of  the  popular  fallacy,  that  those  sep 
arations  occasion  grief  and  despair,  for  it  seems  that  the  wife  is 
"  contented"  with  the  separation,  and  the  husband  is  "  content" 
with  a  new  wife  ;  so  they  are  both  satisfied.  There  is  nothing  in 
the  antecedents  of  the  slave  at  all  inconsistent  with  this  statement 
of  Dickens ;  for  in  Africa  he  is  a  cannibal,  and  in  the  northern 
states  his  presence  creates  an  irresistible  desire  to  spit. 

"  Fifth.  That  out  of  three  millions  slaves,  only  one  thousand 
fled  in  1850  ;  not  in  search  of  '  liberty  for  its  own  sake,  but  as  a 
means  of  escape  from  the  punishments  incurred  by  theft  and  other 
crimes.'  Now  then,  if  the  greater  part  of  the  one  thousand  made 
their  escape  to  avoid  the  punishment  due  to  crime,  there  were  very 
few  who  fled  in  search  of  '  liberty,  for  its  own  sake.' 

What  a  commentary  upon  the  sickly  philanthropy  of  abolition 
ism  !  Nearly  a  thousand  slaves  running  away  to  avoid  the  punish 
ment  of  their  offences.  The  road  along  which  they  fled  still  open, 
and  the  remainder  of  the  three  millions  yet  in  bondage  !  It  must 
be  exceedingly  gratifying  to  abolitionists  who  have  been  expending 
their  sympathy  upon  runaway  slaves,  to  be  assured  that  they  have 
mingled  their  tears  with  those  of  burglars,  thieves,  and  murderers  ! 
One  thousand  scamps  could  hardly  supply  the  sympathetic  demand. 
The  country  sprinkled  over  by  that  intermeddling  and  officious  class 
known  as  abolitionists,  extends  from  Maine  to  Oregon.  It  is  true 
they  are  found  in  darker  clusters  in  some  localities  than  in  others. 
If  each  spot  favored  with  their  presence  is  to  be  blessed  by  a  run 
away  thief,  the  supply  must  be  largely  increased. 

"  Take  another  cigar,  Belthoven,"  said  Melville,  as  he  readjusted 
his  person  upon  the  sofa. 

"  I  repeat,"  continued  Mr.  Jones,  "  the  road  open  to  the  fugitive 
from  justice  is  not  closed  to  the  fugitive  from  labor,  and  I  appeal  to 
common  sense  when  I  ask,  if  the  yoke  upon  the  slave  is  so  heavy 
as  it  is  represented  by  the  abolitionists,  would  the  greater  part  of 
those  who  escape,  flee  from  justice  instead  of  from  insupportable 
cruelties.  Dickens  assails  the  American  abolitionists  because  the 
free  black  '  is  not  less  forced  down  outof  his  just  position  as  a 
man  than  when  he  works  under  the  planter's  whip.'  He  has  not 
stated  the  case  with  sufficient  force.  In  every  essential  character 
istic  which  elevates  the  negro  above  the  brute,  the  slave  is  the  su 
perior  of  the  free  black.  In  the  south  it  is  amusing  to  witness  the 
efforts  of  the  slave  to  imitate  the  chivalrous  bearing  of  his  master. 
They  have  constantly  presented  for  their  imitation  the  manly  con 
duct  of  southern  gentlemen  ;  they  are  associated  with  them  from 
infancy  to  old  age  ;  in  childhood,  upon  the  play-ground,  and  by  a 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  205 

daily  contact  am'id  the  business  and  pleasures  of  manhood.  Thus 
they  acquire  a  moral  tone,  which  is  rarely  seen  among  the  negrftes 
of  the  north.  They  despise  a  mean  action,  and  when  giving  evi 
dence  in  court,  their  truthfulness  is  the  theme  of  universal  admira 
tion.  They  must  radically  change  the  political  and  social  condition 
of  the  free  black  population  ;  they  must  extend  universal  suffrage, 
instead  of  having  a  property  qualification  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars,  as  they  have  in  what  they  call  the  Empire  State  ;  they 
must  suffer  them  to  occupy  seats  beside  them  in  the  house  of  God, 
where  there  should,  if  anywhere,  be  equality  ;  they  must  be  allowed 
to  take  front  sofas  at  the  opera  ;  they  must  have  places  assigned 
them,  with  white  guests,  at  the  dining-table,  in  warm  weather  as 
well  as  cold  ;  they  must  admit  them  to  social  and  political  equality 
without  feeling  inclined  '  to  spit,'  before  they  can  compare  the 
mental  condition  of  the  free  black  with  that  of  the  slave." 

"  But  the  sinfulness  of  holding  human  beings  in  bondage  !  To 
buy  and  sell  the  immortal  mind  !  Why,  Mr.  Jones,  the  bare  con 
templation  of  the  monstrous  wrong  is  enough  to  make  a  sensitive 
man  shudder !" 

"  Especially  if  his  sensibilities  have  been  softened  by  political 
manceuvering  for  twenty-five  years,"  said  Lord  Melville. 

The  American  continued — 

"  This  affectation  of  horror  sits  quite  as  ungracefully  upon  you, 
Sir  William,  as  it  does  upon  the  mawkish  society  of  Dexeter  Hall, 
whose  sympathies  are  exclusively  enlisted  in  foreign  missions." 

"  I  really  cannot  reconcile  it  to  my  conscience  to  palliate  slavery," 
said  the  Baronet,  as  he  gave  utterance  to  a  pious  sigh. 

"  There  are  many  individuals  at  the  present  day,"  said  Mr.  Jones, 
"  who  are  wise  above  what  it  written.  They  affect  greater  sanc 
tity  than  the  Almighty  ever  required.  Let  us  see  how  the  protes 
tations  of  these  Pharisees  compare  with  the  word  of  God.  In  the 
olden  time,  slavery  was  not  only  tolerated,  but  the  '  peculiar  insti 
tution'  was  expressly  established.  The  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
verses  of  the  twentieth  chapter  of  Deuteronomy  reads  thus — 

"  '  13.  And  when  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  delivered  it  into  thine 
hands,  thou  shalt  smite  every  male  thereof  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword. 

"*  14.  But  the  women,  and  the  little  ones,  and  the  cattle,  and  all 
that  is  in  the  city,  even  all  the  spoil  thereof,  shalt  thou  take  unto 
thyself;  and  thou  shalt  eat  the  spoils  of"  thine  enemies,  which  the 
Lord  thy  God  hath  given  thee.' 

"  Now  here  is  not  only  a  divine  recognition  of  the  popular  doc 
trine  that  *  to  the  victor  belongs  the  spoils,'  but  there  is  an  intima 
tion  that  women  are  more  desirable  captives  than  men,  for  they 
were  to  be  retained,  while  the  sterner  sex  were  to  taste  the  edge 
of  the  sword.  What  would  your  abolition  friends  think  of  such 
sanguinary  and  wholesale  slaughter  at  the  present  day  ? 

"  Again  slavery  is  authorized  in  the  25th  chapter  of  Leviticus  : 

' '  44.  Both  thy  bondmen,  and  thy  bondmaids,  which  thou  shalt 
have,  shall  be  of  the  heathen  that  are  round  about  you  ;  of  them 
shall  ye  buy  bondmen  and  bondmaids. 

4  45.  Moreover,  of  the  children  of  the  strangers  that  do  sojourn 


EXGLISH  SERFDOM 

among  you   of  them  shall   ye  buy,  and  of  their  families  that  are 
WhlCh  the  in  y°Ur  land  :  and  th*y  shall     atae 


'46  And  ye  shall  take  them  as  an  inheritance  for  your  chil 
bond  after  you,  to  inherit  them  for  a  possession,  they  shaHe  vo  r 
bondmen  forever:  but  over  your  brethren,  the  children  of  Israel 
ye  shall  not  rule  one  over  another  with  ri^or  ' 


"  Verv  uapS.]Under  rejaW  of]VIoses>"  said  Belthoven,  promptly. 

then  asLw    '  WaS  .         T  quit??8  lnCapab!e  of 
n  as  now?  or  is  he  a  changeable  being, 

' 


,      vsno-    nautv  an 

oppression  during  one  century  and  condemnng         XSS       Ire 
his  precepts  of  to-day  worthy  of  obedience  ?     And  was  the  moral!  y 
'  °"  bai'bar°US  f°r  the  enhten          7- 


ders  tonn  1  un- 

God  wn<  TP    2     wrn  Phllanthr°PIsts  ?     Are  they  purer  now  than 
nsiTinn       nl        aS,  0mniP°tence  b^n  gradually  undergone  a 
transition  until  he  is  almost  as  holy  as  modern  abolitionism  *' 

was  l™™™^^  that  a  m°re  CharitaWe  9*i 


frnm8?  ^  Almj&ht3r  is  not  an  unchangeable  God  ?     Proceeding 
tioT  fra;,mortah^  and  applied  to  Jehovah,  it  is  a  modest 

But  I  will  not  suffer  you  thus  to  assail  the  conduct  and  mo- 
Jehovah.     I  deny  that  either  Christ  or  his  apostles  ever 
»red  one  solitary  word  against  the  institution  of  slavery  •  and 
yet  they  were  surrounded  by  bondmen  and  bondmaids  " 

did  he  not  issue  the  command  to  '  Do  unto  others  as  ve 
would  that  they  should  do  unto  you  ?'  " 

"cT^as^o  WaS  that  any  thing  m°re   than  a  £eneral  Precept 


Wi 

\\  hat  were 


the  positive  requirements  of  the  apostles  1 
of  them.     The  First  General  Epistle  of  Peter, 


18.  Servants,  be  subject  to  your  masters  with  all  fear;  not  only 
'  the  good  and  gentle,  but  also  to  the  froward.' 

;  Epistle  of  Paul  the  Apostle  to  Timothy,  chapter  6  : 
Let  as  many  servants  as  are  under  the  yoke  count  their  own 

honor'  that  the  "    of  God  and 


'2.  And  they  that  have  believing  masters,  let  them  not  despise 
them,  because  they  are  brethren  ;  but  rather  do  them  service,  be 
cause  they  are  faithful  and  beloved  partakers  of  the  benefit.  These 
things  teach  and  exhort.  ' 

'Here  are  express  commands  which  cannot  be  affected  by  gen 

eral  principles.     But  there  is  a  case  which  will  illustrate  this  point 

ich  young  man  once  came  to  the  Redeemer  to  inquire  what  he 

should  do  to  gam  eternal  life.     Jesus  replied  : 

^  G       jll  all  thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  come  and  follow 

"  The  term,  <  all  thou  hast,'  undoubtedly  included  slaves,  for  all 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  20^ 

rich  men  of  that  day  owned  them.  The  command,  then,  was  not 
to  free  his  slaves,  but  to  sell  all  he  possessed.  Not  only  was  slav 
ery  recognized  in  this  way,  but  St.  Paul  sent  back  a  runaway  slave 
to  his  master  ;  a  proceeding  in  striking  contrast  with  the  foraging 
propensities  of  abolitionism.  Sir  William,  you  are,  or  to  speak 
more  correctly,  you  would  have  us  believe  you  are  too  good,  much 
holier  than  Jesus  professed  or  taught.  You  should  abandon  the 
pious  and  purifying  schemes  of  a  politician,  and  seek  some  portion 
of  the  earth  where  a  more  charitable  religion  is  taught  than  that 
expounded  by  our  Savior." 

"  1  can  only  repeat,"  replied  Belthoven,  with  unmoved  counte 
nance,  "  that  I  am  satisfied  with  the  heavenly  mandate,  *  Do  unto 
others  as  ye  would  that  they  should  do  unto  you.'  " 

"  Which  I  have  shown  was  announced  as  a  general  principle, 
and  not  intended  to  conflict  with  positive  requirements.  But  if  that 
is  the  only  argument  you  can  adduce  to  justify  a  crusade  against 
slavery,  let  me  show  you  how  it  can  be  obeyed  in  letter  and  spirit." 

'  How  ?"  asked  the  baronet. 

"  By  doing  to  your  starving  peasantry  as  you  would  that  they 
should  do  unto  you  ;  and  as  our  slaves  are  as  much  ours  as  your 
horses  are  yours,  do  not  steal  them  from  us,  unless  you  would  have 
us  do  unto  you  likewise  by  committing  a  foray  upon  your  posses 
sions.  You  are  fond  of  quoting  that  portion  of  scripture,  and  yet 
you  are  not  willing  to  make  it  the  rule  for  the  government  of  your 
own  actions.  Suppose  you  were  a  slaveholder,  and  all  you  pos 
sessed  on  earth  consisted  of  slaves  which  you  had  derived  by  will 
from  your  father — a  species  of  property  that  you  were  justified  in 
holding  by  the  laws  of  God  and  the  constitution  of  your  country, 
would  it  please  you  to  have  them  stolen  by  a  set  of  thieving,  mous 
ing  abolitionists?  Do  you  think  they  would  be  doing  unto  others 
as  they  would  that  others  should  do  unto  them,  when  they  pirati- 
cally  engaged  in  the  nefarious  business  of  running  your  'negroes 
into  Canada  ?" 

The  baronet  moved  uneasily  in  his  chair. 

"  I  have  been  interested  by  your  facts  and  arguments,"  said  Lord 
Melville  ;  "  will  you  favor  us  with  an  enumeration  of  the  evils  that 
prevail  here,  which  you  were  desirous  of  comparing  with  the  ob 
jectionable  features  of  African  slavery  ?" 

u  Really,  my  lord,  it  is  too  late." 

"  It  is  never  too  late  to  learn." 

"  Briefly,  then,"  said  the  senator,  "  I  will  draw  the  comparison 
between  your  slaves  and  our  own.  We  have  seen,  according  to 
the  admission  of  Mr.  Dickens,  that  very  few  slaves  escape  from 
labor  per  se.  How  is  it  with  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain  ?  Not 
only  are  we  yearly  deriving  large  accessions  to  our  numbers  from 
England  and  Scotland,  but  the  stampede  from  Ireland  is  so  great, 
tbat  it  threatens  to  depopulate  that  portion  of  the  English  empire. 
Now,  sir,  what  causes  the  emigrant  to  abandon  home,  friends,  re 
lations,  and  the  groves  of  his  ancestors  ?  Suffering — suffering 
unto  death.  Starvation  constantly  assails  him,  enters  his  misera 
ble  dwelling,  and  seizes  upon  his  miserable  wife  and  helpless  chil 
dren,  and  that,  too,  under  the  eyes  of  his  unfeeling  landlord.  I  have 


208  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

examined  the  condition  of  your  peasantry,  and  I  can  conceive  of 
nothing  more  horrible  than  their  condition.  I  have  the  report  of  a 
commissioner  who  was  appointed  to  examine  into  the  condition  of 
hand-loom  weavers,  made  to  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain  in 
1840.  With  your  permission  I  will  read  an  extract  from  it,  to 
prove  that  the  slave  is  never  reduced  to  such  a  horrible  state  : — 

'  Children  of  seven  years  old  can  begin  to  turn  the  wheel  to  spin 
flax,  which  is  very  hard  work,  and  they  are  kept  at  work  from  five 
in  the  morning  till  nine  at  night.' 

"  Now,  operatives  and  mechanics  in  New  York  city  have  adopt 
ed  a  rule  (which  very  generally  prevails  elsewhere,)  not  to  work 
more  than  ten  hours  a-day,  and  yet  a  child  of  seven  years  of  age 
is  kept  at  hard  work  sixteen  hours  !  Your  parliament  receive  a 
report  stating  that  fact,  and  then,  with  sanctimonious  countenances, 
lament  that  their  '  cousins  across  the  ocean'  can  be  .10  sinful  as  to 
hold  human  beings  in  bondage  !  Why,  sir,  a  negro  slave,  long  af 
ter  he  is  seven  years  old,  is  master  of  his  own  time,  and  labors  not 
at  all.  English  pauperism  in  1840  was  too  horrible,  yet  it  was  not 
improved  in  1848,  if  we  may  judge  by  the  following  article  in  the 
Liverpool  Times : — 

"  In  many  places  there  are  no  potatoes  left :  in  none  will  the 
perishing  root  be  found  after  May.  .  .  Even  at  Turlough  many 
families  are  at  this  moment,  we  learn,  without  food,  and  the  wretched 
sufferers  are  in  vain  endeavoring  to  get  provision  in  time,  that  their 
children  may  not  die.' 

"  Still  there  is  no  diminution  of  extravagance  among  the  aristoc 
racy.  You  may  travel  throughout  the  southern  states  and  you 
will  find  nothing  that  approaches  in  the  remotest  degree  these 
frightful  pictures  of  destitution." 

"  But  then,"  said  Belthoven,  "  families  of  negroes  are  sometimes 
fore  ably  separated." 

"  I  admit  it,"  responded  the  senator,  "but  not  so  frequently  as 
your  own  countrymen  are  sundered  by  a  necessity  quite  as  irre 
sistible.  If  starvation  threatens  them,  how  long  will  they  refuse  to 
divide  families  in  order  to  preserve  life  ?  This  is  no  mere  suppo 
sition.  That  it  is  a  stern  reality  is  proved  by  the  destitution  which 
is  visible  around  your  manufactories  in  your  cities,  and  even  in  the 
agricultural  districts.  It  is  demonstrated  by  the  thousands  who 
throng  to  our  shores,  as  to  a  place  of  refuge.  It  is  illustrated  by 
the  presence  of  disease,  when  men  and  children  are  not  supplied 
with  '  proper  nourishment.1  It  is  exemplified  as  death  advances 
towards  the  spot  where  famine  has  long  rioted.  As  painful  as  it 
may  be  for  the  slave  to  be  torn  from  his  relations,  it  is  not  so 
frightful  as  that  mental  and  physical  agony  which  forces  its  victim 
to  rejoice  at  the  death  of  her  offspring,  or  compels  the  strong  man 
to  watch  his  wasting  energies,  his  fleshless  limbs,  his  feeble  pulse, 
— to  note  the  departure  of  strength — to  count  the  hours  that  must 
elapse  before  he  will  stand  upon  the  verge  of  the  grave — to  wrestle 
with  death,  again  and  again,  and  still  know  that  the  destroyer  will 
soon  obtain  the  victory  !  And  in  the  midst  of  his  own  agony,  to 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  209 

turn  his  aching  eyes  upon  his  patient  wife — his  weeping  babes — to 
observe  their  emaciated  forms,  pale  cheeks,  and  sunken  eyes !  He 
knows,  too,  that  of  the  wealth — boundless  wealth,  which  is  wrung 
from  the  poor  only  to  be  thoughtlessly  squandered,  such  a  small 
portion  would  save  those  quivering  frames  from  torture  and  death ! 
I  do  think,"  continued  the  American  rising,  and  speaking  with 
more  than  his  accustomed  energy,  "  that  when  Great  Britain  looks 
at  this  picture,  and  then  assumes,  with  the  cant  of  a  hypocrite,  to 
lecture  us  about  the  sinfulness  of  holding  mankind  in  bondage,  she 
deserves  the  execrations  of  men  and  the  vengeance  of  heaven." 

A  pause  ensued.     The  baronet's  countenance  was  thoughtful. 

Jones  took  half-a-dozen  turns  through  the  room,  and  lighting  an 
other  cigar,  threw  himself  again  upon  the  sofa.  His  features  had 
acquired  their  usual  tranquillity,  and  he  resumed  the  conversation 
in  a  tone  of  voice  more  than  ordinarily  low  and  musical. 

"  Now  turn  from  that  picture,  and  examine  the  condition  of  the 
slave.  His  childhood  is  devoted  to  recreation  ;  in  manhood  his 
powers  are  not  overtasked  :  and  in  old  age  he  is  provided  with  a 
home.  In  sickness  he  is  tenderly  nursed,  from  the  hour  that  his 
helpless  form  occupies  the  cradle,  until  he  is  gathered  to  the 
grave.  I  may  hereafter  show  that  whatever  debasement  is  exhib 
ited  by  the  black  is  owing  to  race  not  servitude.  The  fact  is  now 
all  I  have  to  do  with." 

Belthoven  turned  uneasily  in  his  chair. 

"  You  made  rather  a  severe  allusion  to  my  country,  a  moment 
ago.  You  surely  would  not  charge  the  imperial  government  with 
the  suffering  that  is  produced  by  famine?" 

"  At  all  events  the  imperial  government  should  not  assume  the 
duty  of  a  censor,  while  its  own  subjects  are  dying  for  want  of  food. 
You  should  take  the  beam  out  of  your  own  eye,  before  you  try  to 
remove  the  mote  from  your  neighbor's.  But  I  do  distinctly  charge 
the  negro-loving  government  of  the  British  empire  with  the  crime  of 
wilfully  murdering  her  people.  What  reduces  them  to  starvation  ? 
It  is  primogeniture,  the  national  debt,  her  system  of  rents,  and  the 
wretched  policy  of  inclosing  vast  tracts  of  fertile  land  in  parks.  The 
national  debt  was  incurred  to  gratify  an  officious  inclination  to  engage 
in  continental  wars.  The  lower  classes  are  crushed  to  the  earth,  for 
the  purpose  of  gratifying  the  vanity  and  strengthening  the  authority 
of  their  oppressors.  A  beautiful  system,  is  it  not?  Not  satisfied 
with  levying  taxes  for  national  purposes,  they  authorize  the  nobility 
to  divide  up  the  kingdom,  and  then  subdivide  it  among  their  ten 
antry.  The  nobility  will,  of  course,  sustain  a  government  that 
gives  them  such  extraordinary  privileges  ;  and  in  order  to  surround 
it  with  that  splendor  which  is  supposed  to  dazzle  the  vulgar,  they 
must  have  money,  and  they  wring  it  from  the  scanty  earnings  of 
the  lower  classes.  Whatever  suffering  _it  may  produce,  the  rent 
must  be  paid !  If  it  takes  the  last  morsel  of  bread  from  the  hand 
of  infancy,  the  rent  must  be  paid  !  The  rent  must  be  paid,  because, 
without  it,  the  nobleman  could  not  arrest  the  attention  of  foreign 
courts.  The  rent  must  be  paid,  or  the  gigantic  system  of  fraud 
which  enables  the  British  aristocracy  to  trample  on  the  life-blood 
of  the  Amasses,  would  be  overthrown.  Not  satisfied  with  extorting 

10* 


210  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

money  from  the  lower  classes,  to  pander  to  the  ambition  of  the 
government,  and  feed  the  vanity  of  the  nobility,  you  have  crowded 
your  ragged  population  into  farms  that  are  not  large  enough  for  an 
American  grave-yard.  The  nobles  have  the  'power  to  underlet 
their  possessions  to  knights  and  squires,  who  in  turn  underlet  to 
farmers,  who  underlet  to  the  serfs.  They  are  all  interested  in 
pressing  down  the  latter  class,  because  upon  their  shoulders  rests 
the  vast  fabric  of  British  despotism.  Not  only  must  they  be  daz 
zled  by  an  exhibition  of  splendor,  but,  as  if  to  confound  them  by 
the  exercise  of  useless  power,  whole  tracts  of  country  are  devoted 
to  the  chase.  Each  nobleman  must  have  his  park,  his  trained 
pack,  and  neighing  steeds.  The  fairest  portion  of  God's  earth, 
which  might  yield  food  for  a  starving  people,  ministers  to  the  pride 
of  your  aristocracy." 

''  But  what  can  we  do?"  inquired  Belthoven. 

"  What  can  you  do  r  Atone  for  your  sins,  before  you  lecture 
us!  What  can  you  do  1  Diminish  your  taxes.  Reduce  the  sala 
ries  of  your  officers.  Do  not  be  guilty  of  the  folly  of  bestowing 
millions  upon  military  chieftains.  Curtail  the  benefices  of  your 
clergy.  Cut  up  your  parks  into  farms.  Feed  your  people 
instead  of  stag-hounds.  Reduce  your  rents,  and  consider  a  pom 
pous  exhibition  of  splendor  of  less  importance  than  the  lives  of  your 
lower  classes — and  finally  emancipate  your  parish  apprentices." 

"  You  are  altogether  too  great  a  leveller,"  said  Lord  Melville, 
bitterly.  "  You  do  not  know  our  people  ;  the  fact  is  they  were  desti 
ned  for  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water.  You  can't  imagine 
how  they  like  it,  and  how  obedient  they  are.  A  kind  word,  a  gen 
tle  pat  on  the  shoulder,  satisfies  them  for  a  world  of  labor.  One 
thing  is  certain,  they  will  not  bear  prosperity.  We  address 
them  as  imperiously  as  a  southerner  does  his  slave.  If  we  admit 
ted  them  to  equality  of  rights,  tney  would  soon  become  free.  No, 
sir,  they  require  hard  treatment.  It  is  necesary  to  break  their 
stubborn  spirits.  When  that  is  done,  it  only  requires  an  occasional 
steeple-chase,  a  procession  now  and  then,  and  a  fair  once  a  year, 
to  give  them  something  to  talk  about,  and  they  are  satisfied.'1 

"  I  am  glad  you  are  frank  enough  to  admit  the  truth.  You  have 
broken  the  stubborn  spirit  of  the  English  peasantry.  That  spirit 
which,  inspired  by  Wat  Tyler,  threatened  the  British  throne — that 
spirit  which  brought  the  head  of  Charles  the  First  to  the  block,  and 
elevated  one  of  the  people  to  supreme  authority.  It  is  as  effect 
ually  broken  as  the  most  violent  enemy  of  the  chartist  demonstra 
tion  could  wish  it,  after  its  failure  to  march  on  London.  The  spirit 
of  the  slave  is  not  more  crushed  than  that  which  feebly  throbs  in 
the  breasts  of  the  English  peasantry.  And  yet  Charles  Dickens 
mourns  over  the  loss  of  spirit  in  the  slave  !  Believe  me,  gentle 
men,"  said  the  American,  rising  to  take  his  leave,  "  you  are  guilty 
of  injustice,  in  warring  upon  our  institutions.  Your  blood  flows  in 
our  veins  ;  we  speak  the  same  language  ;  we  seek  not  to  assail  your 
rights.  Both  nations  have  a  common  interest ;  and  surely,  when 
we  are  annually  affording  an  asylum  for  thousands  of  your  paupers, 
who  would  starve  under  your  present  system,  it  is  unkind  to  bring 
the  povver  of  wealth — wealth  wrung  from  honesty — to  bear  upon 


AND  AMERICAN"  SLAVERY.  211 

our  institutions,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  them.  If  you  must 
intermeddle  in  the  affairs  of  others,  turn  your  strength  upon  Rus 
sian  despotism.  Relieve  your  own  continent  from  tyranny  and 
misrule  before  you  cross  the  ocean,  to  make  war  upon  your  best 
friends.*' 


CHAPTER  XXL 

"  Again  tliy  wands  are  trealing  in  mine  ears ! 
Again  thy  waves  are  flashing  in  my  sight ! 
Thy  memory-haunting  tones  again  I  near, 
As  through  the  spray  oitr  vessel  wings  her  flight." — SARGENT. 

EZEKIEL  BELKNAP,  witii  a  cheerful  countenance,  threaded  the 
streets  of  London  in  search  of  Kane's  family.  There  was  an  easy 
self-possession  in  his  awkward  gait,  while  he  soliloquized — "  I'm  a 
sovereign,  bona-fide,  -of  the  everlastin  and  etarnal  United  States  ov 
Amariky,  and  I  calkerlate  that's  a  leetle  ahead  of  the  nobility  any 
how  you  can  fix  iL  How  ihem  nobles  dew  put  it  on  !  and  taint 
<;ause  they've  any  right  tew,  for  the  whole  world  knows  they  ain't 
the  upper  crust,  any  how  you  can  fix  it.  They're  no  better  than 
second-rate  furniter.  It's  the  Americans  who're  the  rael  simon- 
pure.  And  the  best  of  the  hull  thing,  they  don't  know  their  infe- 
•raority.  Now  jist  twig  that  aer  feller.  He's  one  on  'em  ;  I  can 
tell  by  his  walk,  which  says  it  as  plainly  as  all  outer  doors.  Jist 
fcwig  him,  neow.  Haw  !  haw  !  haw  !"  roared  Ezekiel,  as  the  head 
<of  the  individual  whose  motions  he  was  watching,  came  rudely  in 
contact  with  the  hod  of  a  mortar-carrier.  The  concussion  not- 
only  shook  the  body  of  the  gentleman,  but  left  a  plentiful  supply  of 
mortar  upon  his  elegant  coat.  "  Haw  !  haw  !  I  guess  you  won't 
be  gazin'  at  the  next  pair  of  pooty  legs,  if  they  are  only  kivered 
by  nice  white  stockings.  Skin  me  alive  if  they  ain't  pooty  though  ; 
they're  as  taperin'  as  the  masts  of  the  Nancy  Ann.  An'"don't  she 
show  'em  kinder  modest-like,  as  if  she  only  thought  how  she  should 

fit  over  the  mud  without  lettin  a  mossel  of  dirt  sile  her  petticoats. 
'11  be  etarnally  exflu notified  if  she  dooze  hev  any  idee  that  a  sin- 
fle  pair  of  men's  eyes  is  admirin  them  pooty  legs  of  hern.    Though 
dare  say  she  would  calkerlate  that  the  mud  wasn't  half  so  deep 
if  them  thar  war  spindle-shanks.     Come  neow,  Ezekiel  Belkiiap', 
yeou   hev  little  to  dew  tew  make  sich  sarned  observations  when 
yeou  are  out  on  the  sarvice  of  a  friend. 

Yankee  doodle  come  tew  town, 
Tew  buy  a  stick  of  candy — " 

The  rest  of  the  stanzas  was  never  to  be  heard  by  that  part  of 
London,  for  Ezekiel's  attention  was  attracted  by  two  persons,  who 
stood  upon  the  corner  of  a  cross-street.  One  of  them  beckoned  to 
an  omnibus  driver  to  "  hold  up."  It  was  evident  they  were  en 
gaged  in  that  branch  of  trade  known  as  the  itinerant  tinning  busi 
ness,  for  they  bore  in  their  hands  a  soldering-iron,  some  lead,  and 
a  pail  of  rosin.  One  of  them  was  very  filthy;  he  was  evidently 


312  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

the  junior,  and,  therefore,  the  working  member  of  the  firm.  The 
dress  of  the  other  was  plentifully  smeared  with  grease  and  rosin, 
and  he  smelt  strongly  of  his  occupation.  The  latter  personage 
called,  in  a  tone  of  voice  intended  to  impress  upon  the  driver  the 
vast  difference  in  the  relative  claims  to  respectability  of  self  and 
partner — 

"  Driver,  let  this  fellow  get  up  there  with  you  ;"  saying  which  he 
ensconced  himself  in  the  stage  with  an  air  that  a  cockney  noble 
man  might  have  envied. 

"  Dew  look  at  that  skunk  !  Wall,  its  jist  exactly  like  the  hull 
proceedins  in  this  country.  There's  nary  ragamuffin  in  this  leetle 
island — woouldn't  make  a  respectable  koenty  in  York  state — but 
fancies  himself  a  darnation  sight  better  than  some  other  ragamuffin. 
Why  I  wouldn't  squat  deown  here  if  they'd  make  me  noble  by  ever 
so  many  paytents.  En  passent,  as  the  Frenchmen  say.  I  never 
could  tell  heow  they  can  paytent  a  feller  so  as  to  make  him  a  no 
bleman.  But  I  spose,  as  necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention, 
they've  kinder  found  out  some  way.  They  must  be  an  all-fired 
mean  set  of  skunks,  to  require  a  paytent  to  make  them  noble,  fur 
in  America  we  are  all  noblemen  by  nature's  paytent ;  which  I  take 
to  be  e'en  abeout  as  good  as  ary  paytent  her  majesty  can  git  up, 
though  they  tell  she  dooze  manufacture  children  fast,  and  pooty 
good  ones  at  that." 

Ezekiel   Belknap  now  proceeded  with  all  due  activity  to  the 
house  where  Kane  resided.     He  enquired  for  Mrs.  Kane.     The 
occupants  of  the  two  lower  stories  never  heard  of  such  a  person. 
"  Wall,  I  kinder  think  they  don't  cozzin  much  hereabouts,  any 
way  you  can  fix  it.     I  guess  if  aunt  Jerusha  lived  in  this  old  rook 
ery,  there  would  be  precious  few  men,  women  and  children,  whose 
hull  history  she  couldn't  repeat,  from  the  moment  of  thar  birth,  in- 
cludin  the  midwifes',  and  the  doctors'  fees.      Say,  can  yeow  tell 
whether  ary  person  by  the  name  of  Mary  Kane  lives  hereabouts  V 
"  No,"  gruffly  replied  a  humpbacked,  one  eyed  man. 
"  Wai,  yeou  needn't  be  so  tarnation  sassy  if  yeou  don't.     I  cal- 
kerlate  politeness  must  be    a  dear  article  in  these  parts,  judgin 
from  the  stingy  way  yeou  deal  it  out." 

The  sailor  continued  to  mount  the  staircase.  "  They're  stuck  in 
around  here  jist  as  thick  as  pismires.  We  must  hev  the  hull  of 
Mexico,  and  them  Canadas  tew,  or  we  can  never  giv  hums  to  all 
these  critters.  An  it  must  be  done  before  you  can  say  Jack  Rob 
inson,  for  they'll  swarm  arter  a  while  wus  than  uncle  Solomon's 
bees.  Can  yeou  tell  whether  or  no  Mary  Kane,  relict  of  Robert 
Kane,  defunct,  is  a  livin  in  this  building?" 

With  wonderful  sagacity,  Mr.  Belknap  declined  admitting  the 
mortal  existence  of  his  friend,  for  fear  he  might  jeopardize  his 
safety  thereby. 

"  I  think  there  was  a  person  of  that  name  living  in  this  room  a 
few  months  ago." 

"  Peers  tew  me  yeou  arn't  overly  neighborly  in  London." 

"  Our  miseries  will  not  let  us." 

"Then  you'd  better  emigrate  to  Ameriky." 

"  America,  where's  that?" 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  218 

"  Jerusalem  !  what  ignorance  !  Don't  know  the  al mightiest  coun 
try  on  airth?  Look-a-heah,  stranger,  yeou  otter  die,  yeou  otter. 
We've  been  a  kickin  and  a  poundin  of  John  Bull's  carcass  enough 
tew  make  him  allers  recollect  his  younger  brother  Jonathan,  any 
way  you  can  fix  it.  Dooze  Mary  Kane  stay  here  neow  ?" 

"No." 

"  I  guess  yeou  otter  know  where  she  is." 

"  I  don't  though  ;  nor  I  don't  care  !" 

"  It's  no  wonder  yeou  can't  keep  up  with  the  smartest  nation  on 
airth.  I  wouldn't  give  a  continental  dam  for  as  many  spews  as 
yeou  are  as  I  could  stack  on  uncle  Solomon's  turnip-patch.  Not 
know  America  !  Old  Pittis  has  forgot  more  than  yeou  ever  knew, 
and  he  never  was  allowed  to  be  half-witted." 

"  Did  you  ask  for  Mary  Kane  ?"  inquired  a  boy  some  dozen  years 
of  a^e. 

"  VVal,  I  did." 

"  She's  dead  !  ' 

"  Dead  !  impossible." 

"  I  seed  here  put  in  the  ground." 

"  My  God  !  that  is  tew  hard  ;  tew  hard  !" 

"  Are  you  her  brother  V 

"  No,  but  if  I  was,  I  couldn't  feel  wus.     Poor  Kane." 

"  She  froze  to  death  in  the  street." 

"  Boy,  I  b'lieve  you're  lyin'." 

"  No  I  aint." 

"  In  the  streets  of  London  ?  Why  what  in  tarnation  did  she 
leave  her  hum  fur  V 

"  She  was  turned  into  the  street  by  the  direction  of  her  land 
lord." 

A  prolonged  whistle  was  the  immediate  response  to  this  intelli 
gence. 

"Wall,  if  I  didn't  kinder  hope,  for  the  sake  of  relationship,  that 
the  charitable  people  of  this  country  war  sometimes  slandered,  but 
neow  I  blieve  the  hull  truth  was  never  told  on  e'en.  May  the 
pesky  critters  allers  live  under  a  monarchy,  and  never  know  the 
blessings  of  a  free  government,  fur  they  don't  desarve  it,  and  that's 
the  wust  punishment  I  can  wish  the  unfeelin  skunks." 

"  Would  you  like  to  see  Mr.  Kane's  children  ?" 

"  Whar  are  they  ?" 

"  At  Philip  Ilogan's." 

"  Well  ?" 

"  No,  they  expect  his  oldest  son  will  die." 

"  Yeou  needn't  tell  me  any  more.  My  heart  is  already  too 
heavy.  I'm  sorry  some  other  person  can't  tell  this  news  tew  Ro 
bert  Kane.  Good  bye." 

And  the  honest  fellow  started  upon  his  return. 

"  Yankee  doodle  came  tew  town, 

Tew It's  no  kinder  use  ;  I  can't  sing  ;  I 

can't  even  whistle.     My  feelins  are  racl  bad  ;  yes,  any  way  you 
can  fix  it." 

With  a  heavy  heart  Ezokiel  Belknap  returned  to  the  "  Nancy 


214  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

Ann."  Robert  saw  in  a  moment  that  some  great  misfortune  had 
occurred,  as  the  sailor  stood  awkwardly  twisting  his  hat. 

"  You  bring  bad  news  ?" 

"  I  dew,  and  I'm  sorry  for't." 

Kane's  face  became  paler. 

"  Tell  me  the  worst,"  he  said,  with  a  painful  effort. 

The  sailor  hesitated. 

"  A  man  who  has  been  publickly  whipped  can  bear  anything,'' 
said  Robert,  and  his  lip  quivered. 

"  It's  very  bad  ;  I'm  so  sorry  to  say  it's  very  bad." 

"  My  wife  is  ill  ?" 

"  She  is  dead  ;  and  neow  you  know  the  wust,"  replied  the  sailor 
as  he  precipitately  left  that  part  of  the  ship,  for  he  could  not  witness 
the  burst  of  grief  that  he  was  certain  would  follow  the  announce 
ment. 

The  form  of  the  unhappy  man  seemed  frozen.  For  several  mi 
nutes  he  remained  stationary,  and  then  rising,  without  speaking  to 
any  one,  he  left  the  ship. 

He  was  not  apprehensive  of  another  assault  from  the  kidnap 
pers  ;  he  did  not  even  think  of  them,  but  straightway  went  to  the 
house  where  he  left  his  family.  He  was  told  they  were  at  Hogan's. 
With  uncertain  steps  he  entered  the  room.  His  features  were  so 
haggard  that  Mrs.  Hogan  did  not  at  first  recognize  him. 

"  She  is  gone,  yes,  kind,  faithful,  gentle  Mary  is  not  here  ;  she 
is  dead." 

"  Father,"  uttered  a  weak  voice. 

He  turned  to  the  little  bed  in  the  corner  of  the  room.  A  thin, 
emaciated  arm  was  extended  towards  him,  from  which  the  bones 
protruded  through  the  skin. 

"  My  God  !  can  this  be  Henry  ?" 

"  Yes,  father,  it's  me." 

Gazing  upon  the  form  of  the  sufferer,  the  muscles  of  his  face 
contracted,  and  then  the  tears  started  to  his  eyes,  while  deep  con 
vulsive  sobs  escaped  from  his  bosom. 

"  Don't  weep,  dear  father  ;  it's  better  I  should  die.  I've  suf 
fered  so  much,  and  I  want  to  be  with  mother  in  heaven,  where 
there  is  no  pain." 

"  Have  I  deserved  this  T'  said  Kane,  as  he  knelt  by  the  bed 
side,  and  kissed  the  wan  cheek  again  and  again. 

"  Pa,  is  it  oo  ?"  said  a  little  voice  at  his  side. 

"  Dolly,  at  least  you  are  spared  to  me  !"  he  exclaimed,  clasping 
her  in  his  arms. 

"  And  here's  Frank  Tot,  too.  Don't  oo  want  to  see  Frank 
Tot?" 

He  took  Frank  upon  his  knee.  The  child  looked  at  him  earn 
estly  for  a  moment,  and  screamed. 

';  My  own  child  don't  know  me  !" 

"  Oo  looks  so  strange,  pa.  What  makes  oo  so  pale  1  HavenTfe. 
oo  had  enough  to  eat,  pa  2" 

He  pressed  her  silently  to  his  bosom. 

"  Say,  pa,  is  oo  hungry  ;  if  zoo  are,  Mrs.  Hogan,  will  give-  oa 
something  to  eat,  for  she  is  a  good  ooman." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  215 

"  She  is  a  good  woman,  and  heaven  will  reward  her." 

"  Do  not  think  of  it,  Mr.  Kane.  1  have  done  no  more  than  Mrs. 
Kane  would  if  she  had  been " 

"Living!  But  she  is  not,  and  I  shall  never  see  her  again. 
Nevermore  hear  her  gentle  voice,  never  more  see  her  sweet  smile. 
All  is  over.  She  was,  too,  such  an  affectionate  wife,  such  a  de 
voted  mother.  Ah  me  !  ah  me  !" 

"And  poor  ma  froze  to  death,"  said  Henry  faintly. 

"  What  is  that  ?"  exclaimed  Kane,  starting  to  his  feet. 
i    Henry  was  awed  by  his  manner. 

Mrs.  Hogan  did  not  speak. 

"  What  did  he  say,  Mrs.  Hogan  :  Mary  frozen  to  death  ?" 

"  Alas  !  it  is  too  true." 

"  How  ?"  he  inquired  with  terrible  distinctness. 

"  She  was  driven  into  the  street,  with  her  children,  by  Solomon 
Greasebeans." 

"  And  that  bad  man,  Hurdy,"  said  Henry. 

"Monster!  Vengeance  will  yet  be  appeased.  It  is  too  much 
for  human  endurance." 

The  strong  man  was  prostrated  by  grief.  He  rallied  again,  and 
all  that  night  he  watched  over  Henry.  The  time  for  taking  nour 
ishment  was  passed.  He  could  only  moisten  his  lips  occasionally 
with  water. 

"  Father  !" 

"  What,  my  child  ?" 

"  You  must  not  mourn  for  me  after  I  am  dead." 

"  You  must  not  die,  Henry." 

He  shook  his  head  mournfully. 

"  I  can't  live  many  hours,  father.  See,  the  bones  are  already 
through  the  skin.  I  shall  die,  but  I  shall  be  happy,  far  happier  in 
heaven." 

A  groan  was  the  only  reply. 

"  And  it  will  be  better  for  you,  father.  Two  children  are  as 
many  as  you  can  take  care  of,  and  I  had  rather  die  than  see  Dolly 
and  Frank  Tot  suffer.  But  you  must  promise  me  one  thing,  fa 
ther." 

"  Anything  you  may  ask,  Henry." 

"  Take  Dolly  and  brother  with  you  to  America.  Don't  keep 
them  here  where  they  steal  fathers  and  leave  their  wives  and  chil 
dren  to  starve." 

"  And  leave  forever  the  grave  of  your  mother  V' 

"  We  shan't  always  be  separated,  dear  father.  We  shall  all 
meet  again  in  heaven  if  we  die  happy  ;  and  I  am  certain  we  shall, 
for  we  have  nothing  to  make  us  wicked." 

"Yes,  Henry,  we  shall  meet  in  heaven." 

"  But  you  will  promise  to  take  Dolly  and  Frank  Tot  to  America, 
wyon't  you  1" 
^  "  I  will,  if  God  spares  my  life." 

"  Thank  you,  father  ;  I  shall  now  die  a  great  deal  happier.  I 
want  you  all  to  have  a  home  that  nobody  can  turn  you  away  from, 
where  kidnappers  never  knock  people  down  and  beat  them.'" 

Kane  startled  as  though  an  adder  had  stunsr  him. 


216  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

It  was  evident  Henry  was  fast  sinking.  His  breathing  was  more 
rapid,  and  the  clammy  sweat  of  death  stood  upon  his  forehead. 
His  limbs  were  rigid,  and  his  fingers  were  pressed  into  the  palms 
of  his  hands.  A  calm  smile  lit  up  his  features  as  his  eyes  turned 
to  his  father's  face.  Their  language  was  expressive  though  voice 
less. 

"  You  see  how  bravely  I  can  meet  death,"  he  whispered. 

But  death  was  not  a  foe  to  be  encountered  without  dread,  and 
the  emaciated  form  shook  convulsively  ;  the  body  struggled. long 
for  life,  but  at  length  the  throes  became  less  and  less  violent,  the 
muscles  of  the  mouth  relaxed,  a  shudder  ran  through  the  frame,  and 
the  spirit  of  the  noble  boy  was  taking  its  flight  towards  heaven. 

With  a  cry  of  anguish  the  father  pressed  the  soulless  clay  to  his 
bosom.  No  smile,  no  motion  responded  to  the  caress,  and  with  a 
thrill  of  agony  he  laid  upon  the  bed  all  of  mortality  that  remained 
of  the  first-born  child,  who  had  been  watched  with  so  much  fond 
ness  by  the  doating  father  from  the  hour  he  was  first  placed,  a  very 
little  thing,  in  his  arms.  The  body  was  committed  to  its  mother 
earth. 

Two  days  must  elapse,  and  then  the  "  Nancy  Ann"  would  sail 
for  the  New  World — a  new  world  to  all  who  have  never  tasted  the 
sweets  of  liberty  and  the  blessings  that  flow  from  the  principle  of 
equality — a  new  world  to  the  victim  whose  spirit  has  been  broken, 
and  whose  body  has  been  lacerated  by  the  rod  of  tyranny — a  new 
world  to  the  humbled  subjects  who  flee  with  horror  and  dismay 
from  the  hypocritical,  festering,  and  savage  governments  of  the  old 
— the  new  world  of  hope,  and  freedom,  and  happiness  for  the  mil 
lions  of  human  beings  whose  hearts  never  before  throbbed  but  with 
a  consciousness  of  suffering  wrongs  ;  wrongs  that  a  despotic  power 
not  only  thinks  itself  justified  in  committing,  but  without  the  aid 
of  which  its  infamous  usurpation  of  inalienable  prerogatives  would 
be  summarily  avenged.  To  this  new  world  Robert  Kane  now  di 
rected  his  attention  ;  not,  it  is  true,  with  the  same  hopefulness  as 
when  his  wife  was  to  have  been  the  partner  of  his  flight.  Still  his 
promise  to  Henry,  and  a  desire  to  place  his  surviving  children 
where  they  would  not  be  subjected  to  the  brutalities  that  had  been 
inflicted  upon  their  parents,  stimulated  him  to  take  efficient  meas 
ures  for  their  escape.  He  had  no  doubt  but  that  the  press-gang 
would  seize  his  person  again  if  they  had  an  opportunity.  The  dan 
ger  was  also  to  be  apprehended  that  search  would  be  instituted  by 
the  officer  in  command  of  the  ship  for  his  arrest  as  a  deserter. 
Thus  surrounded  by  perils,  he  had  to  act  with  the  utmost  prudence. 
Fortunately,  Hurdy  was  not  apprised  of  his  place  of  concealment 
at  Hogan's.  It,  therefore,  only  remained  for  him  to  exercise  proper 
caution  in  getting  his  children  and  his  little  store  on  board  the 
"  Nancy  Ann,"  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  his  escape  would  be 
effected. 

His  friends  assisted  him  with  all  the  cheerfulness  that  his  un 
happy  situation  commanded.  They  were  fearful  the  strong  arm 
of  power  would  arrest  him  before  he  went  on  board  the  "  Nancy 
Ann  ;"  and  even  when  once  there,  he  necessarily  incurred  the 
hazard  of  running  the  gauntlet  of  the  English  fleet,  which  not  only 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  217 

clouded  the  Atlantic  Ocean  with  its  canvass,  but,  hovering  around 
the  channel,  guarded  the  prerogatives  of  the  British  throne,  with 
the  sleepless  vigilance  of  Juno's  Argus. 

At  a  late  hour  on  the  night  preceding  the  day  the  "  Nancy  Ann" 
was  to  sail,  Robert  Kane,  in  spite  of  the  remonstrances  of  Hogan, 
started  to  bid  a  last  adieu  to  the  graves  of  his  wife  and  child.  The 
cold  wind  swept  through  the  streets  of  London.  The  clouds  hung 
upon  the  city,  and  the  tops  of  the  houses  appeared  to  be  blended 
with  their  dark  outlines.  The  police,  wrapped  in  the  livery  of 
authority,  gloomily  "beat  their  rounds,"  benevolently  cursing  their 
fate  because  there  was  nothing  else  to  beat.  Robert  Kane  silently 
threaded  his  way,  intent  only  upon  his  mission  of  grief ;  for  there 
are  moments  when  the  mind  is  so  occupied  with  its  own  suffering, 
that  it  has  no  thought  for  aught  else.  A  few  persons  were  still 
abroad,  but  they  passed  unnoticed  as  he  sped  onwards.  One  man 
cast  a  searching  look  at  the  bent  and  humbled  form  of  Kane,  and 
turning;  with  exultation  gleaming  upon  his  savage  features,  dowered 
the  steps  of  the  mourner.  Hurdy  followed  him  with  the  stealthy 
fidelity  of  a  cat  even  into  the  sacred  resting-place  of  the  dead. 
With  the  fell  determination  and  disgusting  appetite  of  the  hyaena 
he  would  have  preyed  upon  the  form  no  longer  animated  by  vitality' 
Robert  knelt  by  the  grave  of  his  wife.  The  frozen  earth  was 
melted  by  his  tears.  The  human  fiend,  who  stood  with  folded 
arms,  smiled  scornfully. 

"  Faithful,  devoted  Mary  ;  I  thought  we  might,  together,  enjoy 
the  blessings  of  a  happier  home.     But  fate  has  decreed  otherwise 
And  now  I  must  part  with  all   that  remains  of  your  dear  form, 
Mary.     An  ocean  will  soon  roll  between  us.     Never  more  may  I 
kiss  the  earth  that  covers  you  ;  and,  until  the  archangel's  trump 
awakens  the  slumbering  dead,  may  it  rest  lightly  upon  your  bosom 
farewel,  dear  Mary;    farewell,  dear  Henry— we  shall  meet   in 
heaven. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  a  pathetic  scene." 

"  Monster  !    dare  you  pollute  this   sacred  spot  with  your  pre 
sence?" 

"  You  see  I  am  here." 

"  Then  begone,  and  leave  one  who  has  so  much  cause  for  hatinjr 
you,  alone  with  the  dead." 

"  He  !  he  !  he  !"  laughed  the  other  gleefully.  "  You  want  to 
get  rid  of  me,  now,  do'nt  you  ?  But  you  wont,  though,  until  I  have 
placed  you  in  a  situation  to  receive  punishment  as  a  deserter.  Aye 
as  a  deserter ;  do'yoa  hear?" 

"  If  you  will  not  go,  I  must  bid  adieu  to  her  grave." 
With  eyes  rivetted   to  the   mound  of  earth,"  Robert  Kane  was 
slowly  leaving  the  spot. 

"  Not  so  fast,  my  good  fellow  ;  you  will  please  accept  my  com 
pany—and  Hurdy  laid  his  powerful  grasp  upon  Kane's  shoulder 

Hurdy,  you  have  placed  yourself  in  the  path  of  a  desperate 
man.  I  would  not  take  the  life  God.  gave,  notwithstanding  the 
provocation  you  have  given  me*;  but  1  warn  you  to  beware  !  Take 
your  hand  from  my  shoulder." 


218  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  Boy  ;  for  you  are  nothing  but  a  boy  in  my  grasp,  even  if  you 
had  not  been  weakened  by  the  cat " 

He  did  not  finish  the  sentence,  for  he  was  startled  for  a  moment, 
by  the  glance  of  fire  that  shot  from  the  eyes  of  Kane.  It  was  for 
a  moment,  however,  and  then  he  shook  the  form  of  his  prisoner 
with  the  utmost  violence.  Robert  saw  by  the  aid  of  the  faint  gas 
light  that  penetrated  to  the  spot,  that  there  was  no  hope  of  a  rescue, 
even  had  it  been  prudent  to  claim  it. 

"  Mr.  Hurdy,  before  you  interfered  with  my  happiness,  I  was  a 
hard-working,  honest  man,  the  husband  of  a  lovely  and  affectionate 
wife,  and  the  father  of  three  beautiful  children,  whom  1  managed 
to  support,  with  considerable  difficulty  it  is  true — but  still,  with 
rigid  economy,  and  by  denying  myself  every  luxury,  I  did  support 
them.  Without  any  provocation  upon  my  part,  except  poverty, 
you  seized  my  person  ;  you  saw  me  brutally  scourged — yes,  bru 
tally  scourged " 

"  I  did,  I  did,"  interrupted  Hurdy,  rubbing  his  hands. 

"You  assisted  in  turning  my  wife  into  the  street,  from  whence 
she  never  returned  alive/' 

"  I  did,  I  did,"  said  the  monster,  still  joyously. 

"  And  you  brought  my  noble  Henry  to  that  gloomy  spot." 

**  I  did,  I  did." 

"  Now,  do  you  not  think  there  is  enough  for  your  soul  to  answer 
for,  if  you  let  me  go,  heart-broken  as  I  am,  to  the  only  asylum  for 
a  defenceless  mortal,  on  earth  ?" 

"  Not  half,  not  half.  I  expect  to  see  you  whipped  to  death  ;  to 
see  both  your  children  starve — starve  /" 

"  Abandoned  villain  !     What  provoked  such  fiendish  hate  ?" 

"  I'll  tell  you,"  he  replied,  hissing  the  words  into  Kane's  ears. 
"  Your  wife  preferred  you  to  me.  But  I  have  been  terribly 
revenged.  In  addition  to  all  the  accusations  you  have  cast  upon 
me,  there  is  one  more  you  might  add  to  the  rest." 

"  What  is  it  ?  I  thought  you  had  exhausted  the  catalogue  of 
human  atrocities." 

"  Oh  dear,  no  !  Let  me  tell  you."  And  again  his  words  were 
hissed  forth,  as  if  by  the  tongue  of  a  serpent.  "  I  kidnapped  you, 
because  I  could  not  otherwise  accomplish  my  designs  upon  your 
wife " 

"  Hold  !"  shouted  Kane. 

"  On  the  night  she  was  turned  into  the  street  I  forced  her — aye, 
forced  her  to  submit  to  my  embraces.  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !" 

"  Then,  villain,  you  shall  die." 

The  struggle  was  long  and  desperate.  The  one  contended  for 
life — for  Hurdy  saw  gleams  of  insanity  in  the  eyes  of  Kane — the 
other  for  vengeance.  They  were  both  men  of  powerful  frames. 
Robert's,  it  is  true,  was  weakened  by  sickness,  but  it  was  now 
nerved  by  the  wildest  fury.  Hurdy  would  have  shouted  for  assist 
ance,  but  the  hands  of  the  assailant  were  clutched  upon  his  throat. 
They  reeled  backwards  over  graves  and  against  tomb-stones,  in 
that  fierce  conflict.  Twice  they  fell  upon  the  frozen  ground, 
and  each  time  they  rose — Kane  still  clinging  to  the  throat  of  his 
foe,  with  the  remorseless  hold  of  a  tiger.  Hurdy  exerted  all  the 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  219 

powers  of  his  vast  strength  to  shake  him  off,  but  unsuccessfully, 
and  at  length  he  grew  black  under  the  eyes,  his  tongue  protruded 
from  between  teeth  that  grinned  like  a  fleshless  skull.  Reeling 
to  the  earth,  he  fell  upon  the  grave  of  Mary  Kane. 

"  Not  there — you  shall  not  die  there,  remorseless  villain," 
shouted  Kane,  as  he  fiercely  hurled  the  body  away.  Hurdy  recov 
ered  his  breath  ;  he  gasped  faintly,  and  tried  to  regain  his  feet. 
Kane  witnessed  his  exertions,  and  again  that  terrible  gleam  shot 
from  his  eyes.  Hurdy  saw  it. 

"  Mercy" — he  faintly  articulated. 

"  Mercy  !  Have  you  ever  shown  it  1  No — it  is  an  act  of 
mercy  to  rid  the  world  of  such  a  monster.  Prepare  to  die." 

"  One  hour — only  one  hour!" 

"  Not  one  minute." 

"  Do  not — oh  !  as  you  hope  for  mercy  hereafter,  do  not  kill 
me." 

"  Have  mercy  !"  seemed  to  come  from  Mary's  grave.  Robert 
started  ;  was  it  reality,  or  the  false-whispering  of  his  brain. 

"  No,  no — it  is  the  warning  of  some  fiend,  who  would  save  the 
life  of  this  monster,  for  the  service  he  will  render  in  the  cause  of 
Satan." 

"  Have  mercy  !"  the  soft  voice  seemed  to  say. 

"  Gentle  Mary,  I  will  obey  you.  Wretch,  begone  !  But  hark 
you  :  if  ever  you  cross  my  path  again,  you  shall  die.  Away  !" 

Hurdy  staggered  from  the  spot,  feeling  his  throat  as  he  went, 
and  turning  his  head  first  to  one  side  and  then  to  the  other,  to  see 
if  it  was  not  dislocated.  He  did  not  proceed  far,  however  ;  but 
having  ascertained  that  his  neck  was  all  right,  with  the  exception 
of  being  considerably  bruised  and  feeling  decidedly  uncomfortable, 
he  halted  behind  a  pretentious  tomb-stone,  which  announced  the 
important  fact  that  the  dust  slumbering  beneath  it  was  much  more 
honorable  than  the  ashes  that  reposed  under  the  adjoining  mounds. 

Protected  from  observation,  Hurdy  watched  the  movements  of 
Kane.  A  scowl  of  ungratified  malice  wrinkled  his  savage  features. 

"  Won't  I  be  revenged  !"  he  muttered  between  his  gnashing 
teeth. 

Robert  Kane  arose  from  the  grave  of  his  wife  and  slowly  left 
the  spot.  Hurdy  followed  him  as  steadfastly  as  Satan  tracks  the 
footsteps  of  the  sinner.  Arriving  at  Hogan's,  Robert  entered^the 
house,  while  Hurdy  hastened  with  all  possible  speed  to  collect^ris 
band. 

Time  pressed  :  the  small  hours  of  the  morning  were  rapidly  in 
creasing,  when  Kane,  accompanied  by  Hogan,  Dolly,  and  Frank 
Tot,  started  for  the  "  Nancy  Ann."  Dolly-s  eyes  opened  with  timid 
surprise,  at  first,  and  then  observing  her  father  with  the  baby  in  his 
arms,  she  nestled  to  the  bosom  of  Hogan,  and  soothed  by  the  mo 
tion,  fell  asleep.  Frank  cried  when  the  cold  night-air  penetrated 
ids  lungs,  but  he,  too,  was  soon  pacified  by  the  gentle  words  of  his 
father.  Kane  cast  eager  glances  up  and  down  each  street,  but  no 
one  pursued  them.  The  river  was  not  far  distant;  he  thought  he 
could  see  the  tapering  spars  of  the  "  Nancy  Ann."  He  breathed 


220  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

more  freely  ;  already  he  tasted  the  sweets  of  liberty  ;    his  heart 
bounded  with  a  strange,  happy  delight. 

"  What  is  that  ?"  he  inquired. 

"  Footsteps,"  rejoined  Hogan. 

"  And  in  pursuit.     Faster  !   faster  !" 

They  increased  their  pace  to  a  run.  The  pursuers  were  unin- 
cumbered,  and  rapidly  gained  upon  them. 

"  Now  I  have  you,"  exclaimed  Hurdy,  exultingly,  as,  accompan 
ied  by  three  confederates,  he  rushed  upon  the  fugitives 

"Off!  off!"  shouted  Kane. 

"  By  the  eternal  God,  no  /",  replied  Hurdy,  as  his  grasp  was 
once  more  laid  upon  Kane's  shoulder. 

"  Then  take  the  death  that  is  a  thousand  times  too  merciful  for 
such  a  monster." 

Thought  is  not  quicker  than  the  long  blade  of  Kane's  knife 
pierced  the  heart  of  his  foe.  With  curses  upon  his  lips,  Hurdy 
fell  to  the  earth. 

They  were  still  three  to  one.  Robert  had  thrown  away  his 
knife  ;  he  would  not  shed  more  blood.  They  were  overpowered, 
for  the  motions  of  each  were  embarrassed  by  a  child.  Suddenly 
another  combatant  appeared. 

"  I  kinder  guess  three  to  tew  ain't  the  clean  thing,  no  heow  yeou 
can  fix  it,  so  yeou  may  see  heow  that  are  feels  in  your  paunch." 
Saying  which,  Ezekiel  Belknap  sent  a  tremendous  blow  into  the 
abdomen  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  kidnappers,  and  as  it  was  an 
upward  blow,  his  head  struck  the  pavement  first. 

"  I  calkerlate  yeou  never  tasted  a  ginewine  Varmont  Sockdola 
ger  afore.  Well  neow  my  hand  is  in,  I  might  jist  as  well  spile  the 
profylet  of  the  hull  crobboodle,  so  here's  at  yeou  jist  as  slick  as 
flap-jacks  buttered  on  both  sides  tasted  on  a  airish  mornin." 
S  The  Englishman  squared  himself  after  the  most  approved  method 
of  the  ring. 

"  Yeou  don't  calkerlate.  I  gues,  to  come  it  over  Ezekiel  Belknap 
with  that  are  slighter-hand  business,  dew  yeou  ?  Wall,  I'll  give 
yeou  the  allfiredest  hug  yeou  ever  had,  unless  yeou've  been  squizzed 
by  a  grizzly  bar." 

In  a  moment  the  sailor  was  within  the  guard  of  the  other,  and 
encircling  him  in  his  arms,  pressed  him  with  such  violence  that  he 
screamed  with  pain. 

"  I  knowed  it ;  I  jist  knowed  it.  Whenever  a  feller  begins  to 
dance  abeoutlike  like  a  pea  in  a  hot  skillet,  a  flourishin  his  fists  tins 
way  and  that  way,  yeou  may  be  sure  he'll  flummux.  I'll  gin  yeou 
one  more  jist  by  way  of  a  clincher.  Pie  !  oh  !  he  !" 

The  kidnapper  groaned  with  agony. 

"  I  persume  you'll  stay  tew  hum  another  night,  instead  of  sky- 
larkin  abeout.  Pesky  critters,  leave  /" 

They  did  not  require  a  second  invitation,  but  moved  hastily 
away. 

But  although  they  had  escaped  these  foes,  the  police  were  aroused. 
Rattles  were  heard  in  every  direction.  The  light  of  day  having 
appeared,  the  gas  was  turned  off  in  the  streets.  As  they  freed 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  221 

themselves  from  the  kidnappers,  however,  a  thick  fog  shut  down 
upon  them. 

"  Follow  me,"  said  the  sailor.  They  clustered  together  and  hur 
ried  towards  the  ship.  Their  movements  were  arrested  by  a  dozen 
rattles  in  front. 

'"  This  way,"  whispered  the  sailor. 

Having  once  departed  from  a  direct  line,  it  was  difficult  to  strike 
the  right  course  again.  The  fog  became  still  more  dense,  but 
while  it  prevented  the  police  from  seeing  them,  it  also  rendered  the 
attempt  to  find  the  ship  exceedingly  dangerous.  Thrice  had  they 
turned  their  course  without  success.  The  police,  as  if  aware  they 
had  enclosed  them,  now  narrowed  their  circle.  Turning  in  that  di 
rection  which  seemed  the  least  guarded,  they  found  themselves  at 
the  point  anxiously  sought  for.  With  the  exception  of  Hogan, 
who  had  succeeded  in  effecting  his  escape,  the  fugitives  entered  the 
ship,  and  were  secreted  in  the  hold  by  Ezekiel.  No  sooner  had  he 
accomplished  that  feat,  than  he  returned  to  the  deck,  and  reclining 
against  a  mast  affected  to  be  asleep.  The  fog  now  lifted  and 
through  his  half-closed  eyes,  Mr.  Belknap  saw  a  group  of  police 
officers  approaching  the  '"  Nancy  Ann."  Two  of  them  stepped 
upon  the  deck. 

"  Who  commands  here,"  said  one  of  them. 

"  I  swow,  if  I  han't  been  caught  a  nappin,"  said  Ezekiel,  rubbing 
his  eyes.     ''  Captain  Smith  commands  the  Nancy  Ann." 
|^"  Have  any  persons  entered  the  ship  during  the  last  fifteen  min 
utes  ?" 

"  Nary  livin  critter,  I'm  sartain,  for  I'm  dreadful  wakeful." 

"  So  it  would  seem,"  replied  the  other  sarcastically. 

"  Sartain  ;  when  it's  necessary." 
Bill,  you  were  mistaken,  they  can't  have  entered  here." 

"  Perhaps  I  was ;  let's  look  further  and  then  return  here  if  we 
are  unsuccessful  elsewhere." 

As  they  left  the  ship  Ezekiel's  fingers  cut  certain  fantastical 
flourishes  in  front  of  his  nose,  which,  to  the  well  informed  in  such 
matters,  is  understood  to  express  the  idea  that  the  operator  enter 
tains  the  liveliest  contempt  for  the  individual  who  has  elicited  the 
aforesaid  digital  flourishes. 

Orders  were  now  issued  to  cast  off  the  fastenings  that  secured 
the  ship  to  the  dock.  With  more  than  ordinary  speed  the  "  Nancy 
Ann"  was  extricated  from  the  shipping  that  surrounded  her  and 
stood  out  into  the  Thames.  It  was  an  anxious  moment  for  Robert 
Kane,  for,  to  be  seized  now,  when  he  had  incurred  so  many  diffi 
culties,  would  be  doubly  painful. 

The  police  having  prosecuted  their  search  without  effect  were 
now  returning  to  examine  the  "  Nancy  Ann."  When  they  reach 
ed  her  berth  she  was  in  the  middle  of  the  stream.  With  earnest 
gesticulation  they  beckoned  for  her  to  "  heave  to."  Their  orders 
were  answered  by  a  second  edition  of  those  digital  nourishes, 
enacted  by  Ezekiel  Belknap,  which,  judging  by  the  effect  produced 
upon  the  police,  had  a  language  that  the  conservators  of  the  peace 
were  not  wholly  unfamiliar  with,  though  it  is  not  to  be  supposed 


222  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

they  ever  required  their  own  fingers  to  perform  such  fanciful  con 
volutions  and  spasmodic  jerks. 

A  consultation  seemed  to  be  held  by  the  police.  Apparently 
they  had  decided  on  a  pursuit,  for  two  of  them  entered  a  boat  and 
pulled  vigorously  towards  the  receding  ship.  So  rapid,  however, 
was  the  motion  of  the  "  Nancy  Ann,"  as  she  wras  driven  down  the 
river  by  the  wind  and  tide,  that  unless  they  obtained  more  speed, 
the  pursuit  would  be  hopeless.  They  seemed  to  be  assured  of  the 
fact,  for  they  pulled  in  the  direction  of  a  revenue  cutter.  Robert 
Kane  stepped  upon  the  deck  to  watch  his  pursuers.  By  the  time 
the  cutter  was  "  under  weigh"  the  "  Nancy  Ann"  was  a  mile 
ahead,  and  going  through  the  water  at  a  rapid  rate  of  speed.  At 
length  Kane  lost  sight  of  his  pursuers  altogether. 

While  the  good  ship  was  passing  the  English  fleet  Kane  involun 
tarily  trembled.  He  was  still  within  the  grasp  of  remorseless 
power.  Each  moment  the  "  Nancy  Ann"  glided  away  from  those 
bristling  cannon  lie  breathed  more  freely,  and  when  at  length  he 
was  beyond  their  reach  he  uttered  an  involuntary  shout  of  glad 
ness. 

After  a  long  rest  the  good  ship  snuffed  the  breezes  of  the  Atlan 
tic,  as  she  laved  her  sides  in  the  green  waves,  or  plunged  her  prow 
into  the  rolling  billows.  Laden  with  the  hopes  of  liberty,  she 
started  for  the  shores  of  America,  the  "  land  of  the  free  and  the 
home  of  the  brave." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

"  For  nil  the  rest, 

They'll  take  suggestions  as  a  cut  laps  milk  ; 
They'll  tell  the  "clock  to  any  business  that 
We  say  befits  the  hour." — SHAKESPEAKE. 

MRS.  SOLOMON  GREASEBEANS,  although  she  would  doubtless 
scorn  the  imputation,  was  a  sponge.  She  could  have  been  indicted 
and  found  guilty  as  such  any  week  day  of  the  whole  year.  A.nd  it 
was  intimated  upon  the  strength  of  opinions,  known  to  have  been 
entertained  by  her  most  intimate  friends,  that  she  was  not  entirely 
guiltless  of  the  charge  on  that  day  more  particularly  set  apart  for 
divine  service.  And  yet,  strange  to  say,  some  of  her  friends  ra 
ther  liked  the  operation  of  being  sponged,  as  it  was  performed  by 
Mrs.  Solomon  Greasebeans.  She  did  not  assail  them  as  though 
all  their  good  nature,  as  well  as  their  favors,  were  to  be  absorbed. 
She  had  too  much  tact  to  be  guilty  of  such  coarseness.  It  was 
accomplished  by  a  delicate  process  so  well  understood  by  the  saga 
cious  sponge.  The  reputation  of  Mrs.  Greasebeans,  nevertheless, 
was  that  of  a  lickspittle  and  toady,  though  her  most  devoted  friends, 
only,  took  the  libertv  of  saying  that  such  was  the  fact.  And  herein 
consisted  the  superior  adroitness  of  Mrs.  Greasebeans'  tactics.  She 
never  was  known  to  make  a  direct  application  for  favors,  like  Mrs. 
Furnlace,  for  instance,  who  was  guilty  of  the  bad  taste  of  urging 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  228 

specific  requests  ;  as,  u  May  I  have  your  carriage  to  make  calls 
in  ;  I  have  such  a  horrid  dread  of  the  small-pox  whenever  I  enter 
a  hackney-coach."  Or,  "  Will  you  lend  me  five  pounds  until  my 
husband  arrives,"  or,  "  Can  I  wear  your  elegant  scarf,  unless  you 
intend  to  wear  it  for  the  third  time  this  season."  Mrs.  G.  beans, 
(for  she  was  recognized  by  the  different  appellations  of  Grease- 
beans,  G.  beans,  and  Grease  b.)  was  never  known  to  be  guilty  of 
such  flagrant  indiscretions.  The  principal  weapon  employed  by  the 
lady  for  the  purpose  of  accomplishing  her  object  was  flattery  ; 
though  as  a  formidable  auxiliary  thereto,  she  most  effectually  sus 
tained  the  character  of  a  newsmonger,  a  very  desirable  character, 
indeed,  if  you  wish  to  amuse  a  portion  of  the  feminine  gender  ; 
ivhat  proportion  of  that  indispensable  sex  shall  be  left  for  them  to 
decide.  If  Mrs.  Greasebeans  did  not  anticipate  a  very  comfortable 
dinner  at  home,  owing  to  a  scarcity  of  game  at  her  market ;  or, 
because  she  sent  too  late,  or  did  not  take  the  trouble  to  send  at  all, 
it  is  a  reasonable  supposition  that  Mrs.  Greasebeans  intended  to 
dine  somewhere  else.  Where  can  she  pay  for  a  good  dinner  with 
flattery  and  news  ?  Why  at  Mrs.  Flukins,  to  be  sure.  Flukins 
always  sets  a  good  table.  Flukins'  parlors  are  elegantly  furnish 
ed,  and  Mrs.  Flukins  is  never  tired  of  hearing  them  praised.  There 
were  two  subjects  of  conversation  which  Mrs.  Flukins  could  dwell 
upon  from  morning  till  night,  without  the  slightest  evidence  of  fa 
tigue.  They  were  as  inexhaustible  as  that  unusual  theme,  the 
weather,  is  to  a  bashful  man  or  a  saphead.  Her  parlors  and  Hen 
rietta  Maria  Flukins.  In  her  mind's  eye,  Mrs.  Greasebeans  saw 
the  complacent  features  of  Mrs.  Flukins,  while  she,  Mrs.  G'beans, 
was  pointing  out  the  beauty  of  the  rosewood  furniture,  the  gorgeous- 
ness  of  the  carpet — roast  goose  and  boiled  turkey  just  placed  upon 
the  table — the  magnificence  of  the  statuary — baked  duck,  her  favor 
ite  dish — the  splendor  of  the  mirrors — grouse — the  richness  of  the 
curtains—champagne,  Heidsick,  at  that.  If  all  this  failed  to  elicit 
an  invitation  to  dine,  the  grace,  bearing,  and  accomplishments  of 
her  charming  young  friend,  Henrietta  Maria,  freely  dwelt  upon,  was 
certain  to  procure  for  the  goose,  turkey,  grouse,  and  baked  duck — 
especially  the  baked  duck — the  honor  of  being  consumed  by  Mrs. 
Solomon  Greasebeans,  consort  of  Mr.  Solomon  Greasebeans,  senior 
member  of  the. great  house  of  Greasebeans,  Snodgrass  &  Co.  An 
honor  rarely  conferred  upon  dead  animals.  In  the  parlor  of  Mrs. 
Flukins,  and  the  beauty  of  Miss  Flukins,  Mrs.  G'beans  saw  dinners 
ad  injimtum,  and  she  always  thought  there  was  no  more  appropri 
ate  time  than  the  present  for  enjoying  one  of  them.  She  could  not 
reflect  upon  the  subject  with  placid  indifference,  or  without  a  cer 
tain  nervousness  in  the  region  of  the  stomach,  and  she  therefore 
rung  the  bell. 

"  Bridget,  what's  for  dinner  ?" 
"The  remains  of  last  week's  ham." 

"  That  ham  is  getting  quite  too  ancient ;  it  possesses  as  few 
attractions,  calculated  to  tempt  one's  appetite,  as  Mr.  Greasebeans 
does,  since  he  turned  grey,  and  wears  spectacles.  What  else  ?" 

'*  Some  corned  beef." 
.    "  I  shall  not  dine  at  home  to-day.     I  think,  as  the  weather  b 


224  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

gloomy,  Mrs.    Flukins    would   like   to    be  entertained.     Get  my 
second  hat." 

Mrs.  Flukins  not  being  an  admirer  of  light  or  substantial  litera 
ture,  and  possessing  no  taste  for  needlework — which,  in  her  estima 
tion,  poor  people  made  decidedly  vulgar — was  yawning  away  the 
hours  until  dinner;  repining,  because  the  weather  was  not  pleasant 
enough  for  her  to  shop,  or  to  make  calls.  It  was  a  matter  of  per 
fect  indifference  to  Mrs.  Flukins  if  James  could  not  get  along 
without  the  aid  of  his  "  Solitary  Horseman,"  Dickens  without  his 
ghosts  ;  Thackeray,  without  proving  himself  a  greater  snob  than 
he  could  delineate.  So  far  as  she  was  concerned,  the  "  solitary 
horseman"  might  have  been  kept  upon  his  steed  until  both  had  pet 
rified,  or  "  putrified,"  as  Mrs.  Partington  would  have  it.  Dickens 
might  have  written  himself  out  a  dozen  times  instead  of  twice,  and 
Thackeray  might  have  proved  himself  a  more  finished  snob  than 
he  has  ever  described. 

The  door-bell  summoned  Sally.  She  escorted  an  itinerant 
merchant  into  the  parlor.  Probably  his  net  receipts  were  not 
large,  for  his  dress  had  a  decidedly  Jeremy  Diddler  appearance. 
With  an  air  calculated  to  propitiate  the  rich  lady,  he  displayed  his 
wares. 

Mrs.  Fhjjiins  examined  him  through  her  eye-glass  (she  used  an 
eye-glass  instead  of  spectacles,  so  that  people  might  attribute  it  to 
shortness  of  vision,  instead  of  age,)  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
said  languidly — 

"  Go  away,  dirty  man  ;  you  make  me  nervous." 

u  I  beg  your  pardon,  madam,  but  I  assure  you  my  poverty  is  not 
in  the  slightest  degree,  of  my  own  choosing." 

"  What  a  horrid  creature.     Dirty  man  do  go  away." 

"  Is  there  nothing  I  can  show  you  1"  persisted  the  travelling 
merchant,  with  characteristic  importunity. 

"  Nothing." 

"  Thread  ?" 

"  Never  sew — vulgar." 

"Lace?" 

"  No'"  • 

"Silks'?" 

"  Sally  !" 

"  Handkerchiefs !" 

"  Show  this  man  to  the  door." 

"  Gloves  ?" 

"  Sally,  call  the  police." 

"  Yes,  mem,  going  ;  another  time  I  hope — 

"  Dirty  man " 

"Gone!" 

Mrs.  Flukins  applied  her  perfumed  handkerchief  to  her  cultiva 
ted  nose,  while  she  cast  a  look  of  disgust  at  the  spot  recently  occu 
pied  by  the  merchant.  She  then  rose  from  her  luxurious  chair, 
and,  with  studied  grace,  walked  to  the  mirror.  Grace — languid 
grace,  was  Mrs.  Flukins'  interesting  weakness.  She  could  not 
spend  more  time  attitudinizing,  if  she  expected  to  become  a  model 
for  Hiram  Powers,  in  the  Conception  of  another  Greek  Slave. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  226 

Every  position  the  human  form  could  be  made  to  assume,  grace 
fully,  was  known  to  Mrs.  Flukins.  She  devoted  at  least  one  hour 
each  day  to  "  mirror  practice"  as  she  facetiously  called  it.  She 
rested  the  weight  of  her  form  upon,  one  foot,  and  then  upon  the 
other,  and  contrasted  the  effect  produced  by  each  position.  She 
confessed  to  a  partiality  for  the  "  left  leg  position,"  as  she  styled 
it,  in  the  privacy  of  her  own  parlor.  Though  she  was  not  posi 
tively  certain,  but  that  the  other  was  almost  as  much  admired  by 
the  men.  Her  lovely  hand — for  even  Mrs.  Flukins'  rivals  were 
forced  to  admit  that  her  hands  did  stand  age  remarkably  well — 
gracefully  rested  upon  her  forehead,  with  the  thumb  placed  upon 
the  temple,  and  the  fingers  slightly  bent,  so  as  to  display  their  curv 
ing  outlines.  Another  favorite  attitude  of  Mrs.  Flukins — and  what 
she  did  to  perfection — was  to  rest  her  elbow  upon  the  back  of  a 
chair,  with  the  fore-finger  of  her  left  hand — because  that  hand  was 
the  smallest — resting  upon  her  cheek,  within  easy-travelling  dis 
tance  from  her  mouth,  whither  her  little  finger  made  frequent 
excursions,  for  the  benefit  of  its  health.  Lip  dew  being  considered, 
in  the  estimation  of  many  ladies,  an  admirable  medicine  for  sick 
fingers,  which  any  one  can  discover,  by  observing  how  often  appli 
cations  are  made  thereto — especially  by  maidens  who  have  beauti 
ful  hands,  red  lips,  and  pearly  teeth  ;  it  being  a  curious  fact,  that 
the  fingers  of  all  such  are  much  oftener  indisposed  than  those  who 
have  big  hands,  thin,  pale  lips,  and  scraggy  teeth. 

Mrs.  Flukins  would  then  run  the  extremities  of  her  taper 
fingers  through  the  mass  of  curls  (carefully  dyed,  for  Mrs.  Flukins, 
in  anticipation  of  the  final  end  of  all  flesh,  considered  it  her  duty  to 
dye  twice  a  week,  at  least,  by  way  of  familiarizing  herself  with  the 
grim  monster)  that  clustered  upon  her  cheek.  But  that  attraction, 
which  Mrs.  Flukins  most  prided  herself  upon,  was  the  skillful 
management  of  her  large  black  eyes.  They  were  made  to  roll  in 
every  conceivable  manner,  from  the  devotional  gaze  at  the  ceiling, 
which  was  the  chef-d'oeuvre,  to  the  side-long,  half-timid,  half-fur 
tive  glance,  that  could  not  brook  the  thorough  examination  she 
was  conscious  of  eliciting ;  the  full  and  melting  lustre,  that  be 
trayed  the  whole  ocean  of  trusting  confidence  with  which  she  was 
inspired,  were  all  displayed  with  a  matchless  art,  that  awakened 
the  liveliest  enthusiasm  in  the  bosom  of  the  no  longer  youthful 
Mumford  Flukins. 

Again  Sally  was  summoned. 

"  What  o'clock  is't  V  said  Mrs.  Flukins,  with  an  attitude,  for  she 
even  practiced  on  the  waiter. 

"Three." 

"  One  hour  before  dinner.  I  wish  somel^pcly  would  call ;  even 
that  dear,  agreeable  sponge,  Sol.  Greasebeans'  wife,  would  be  a 
God-send.  That's  her  ring  now  ;  I  can  tell  it,  for  it's  a  hungry 
ring.  Well,  she  can  earn  a  dinner  in  an  hour  any  day.  Tell  her 
I  am  at  home,  Sally.  How  different  she  is  from  some  of  my 
friends,  who,  most  inconsiderately,  drop  in  as  the  dinner  is  being 
dished.  1  would  not  care  if  they  did  not  eat  so  much  as  to  become 
stupid,  thereby  depriving  me  of  the  scandal  which  is  my  due  after 
feeding  them.  I  must  change  my  dinner-hour  occas — " 

11 


226  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

W  "Ah,  my  dear  Mrs.  Greasebeans,  how  kind  of  you  to  call  such 
a  nasty  day.     I  am  so  glad  to  see  you." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Flukins.  You  are  well,  I  hope?  and  dear 
Henrietta  Maria  ?" 

"  She  is  still  poring  over  Dickens'  last,  though  how  she  can 
laugh  and  cry  over  his  endless  twaddle  1  never  could  tell,  unless  it 
is  because  he  clatters  on,  like  the  old  water-wheel  at  my  father's 
in  the  country.  It's  well  enough,  you  know,  to  glance  over  them, 
because  it's  fashionable  to  say  you  have  read  his  works.  But  she, 
foolish  child,  takes  pleasure  in  their  perusal.  Well,  what's  the 
news?  1  have  been  crazy  to  see  you.  I  know  you  have  heard  a 
world  of  pleasant  scandal  to  tell  me  since  you  dined  here  day  be 
fore  yesterday." 

Mrs.  Greasebeans  indulged  in  a  small  deprecatory  laugh. 

"  It  is  too  kind  of  you  to  welcome  me  so  cordially.  I  should  not 
call  here  so  often  if  it  were  not  for  your  agreeable  manners,  and  to 
enjoy  a  sight  of  charming  Henrietta  Maria,  as  well  as  to  take 
another  peep  at  your  elegant  furniture,  which  I  can  never  suffi 
ciently  admire." 

Mrs.  Greasebeans  had  made  this  speech  at  least  forty  times  : 
but  she  counted  largely  upon  the  ability  of  Mrs.  Flukins  to  digest 
it  twice  a  week  throughout  the  year. 

The  large  black  eyes  of  Mrs.  Flukins  cast  a  gratified  glance 
around  the  parlor. 

"  I  have  a  little  bit  of  news  to  tell  you." 

"I  knew  it." 

"  You  may  recollect  Lord  Snizzle  ?" 

"Ah,  yes;  he  calls  here  constantly  since  the  night  of  your 
party.  To  tell  you  the  truth,  he  is  dying  for  Henrietta  Maria." 

"  She  is  too  good  for  him.     He  don't  pay  his  tailor's  bills  !'' 

"  Is  it  possible  ?" 

Rich  plebeians  think  nothing  so  reprehensible  as  the  non-pay 
ment  of  bills. 

"  Yes.  Mr.  Presshard  trusted  him  until  the  prospect  of  having 
his  accounts  liquidated  became  gloomy  ;  and  at  length  he  took 
legal  steps  to  obtain  his  dues.  The  officer  found  Lord  Snizzle  in 
a  lofty  mood.  '  Your  lordship,'  said  the  officer,  '  has  suffered  these 
small  items  to  accumulate,  until,  in  the  aggregate,  they  amount  to 
a  very  considerable  sum.  Mr.  Presshard  would  consider  it  a  great 
favor  if  your  lordship  will  favor  him  with  your  check  for  the  afore 
said  sum  of  sixty-seven  pounds,  nineteen  shillings,  eleven  pence 
half-penny.' 

" '  Certainly,'  replied  his  lordship,  seizing  his  pen  and  a  blank 
check. 

"  '  But  has  your  lorship  any  funds  in  bank  to  meet  the  check  ?' 

"  *  Not  that  I  am  aware  of;  but  beingjof  a  very  prying  disposi 
tion,  I  did  not  know  but  that  you  could  find  what  I  have  sought  for 
in  vain/ 

"  '  Come  now,  Lord  Snizzle,  this  won't  answer  the  contract, 
must  have  the  money.' 

" '  Base  is  the  slave  who  pays !'  ejaculated  his  lordship,  theatri- 
cally.-j 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  22Y 

^  Lord  Snizzle  !  I  must  inform  your  lordship  that  a  knowledge 
of  Shakespeare  won't  save  you  the  next  time  I  call.  Good  morn 
ing-,  your  lordship.' 

"Mr.   Presshard   has  not  received  the  amount  of  his  bill  to  this 

"  Scandalous  !     But  he  dresses  well." 

"For  the  very  best  reason  in  the  world  ;  he  never  pays  for  his 
clothes  I  should  like  to  know  if  a  person  under  such  circumstan- 
ces  ought  not  to  dress  well  ?  The  truth  is,  his  lordship  is  no  better 
than  a  genteel  '  Jeremy  Diddler  ;'  and  avowedly  so,  too  for  he  does 
not  hesitate  to  ask  his  friends  to  patronize  such  and  such  establish 
ments,  because,  to  bring  customers  to  them  is  all  the  compensation 
he  ever  expects  to  make.  It  is  so  even  at  watering-places  He 
is  a  favorite  with  landlords,  because  he  gets  up  hops,  and  supper 
parties,  and  balls,  all  of  which  help  to  swell  the  profits  of  the  hotel 
keepers.  They  can  afford  to  board  him  for  nothing,  as  he  makes 
others  pay  his  bills  ten  times  over.  His  own  being  settled  after 
the  manner  of  Wilkins  Micawber.  Such  I  understand  to  be  the 
prominent  trait  in  his  lordship's  character." 

'*  This  is  all  news  to  me.  I  never  knew  before  why  Lord  Snizzle 
happened  in  so  often  about  dinner-time.     The  mysterv  is  now  ex 
plained.      He  is  a  regular  sponge." 

Mrs.  Greasebeans  cast  a  quick  glance  at  her  friend  to  see  if  there 
was  a  sarcasm  in   her  meaning,  personal  to  herself.     The  co'inte 
nance  of  Mrs.  tlukins  was  impassive. 

The  dinner  bell  rung. 

"That's  for  your  dinner.     I  will  bid   you   good   morning  and 
Mrs.  Greasebeans  rose  apparently  to  take  her  leave,  witfiout  Intend 
ing  to  do  anything  of  the  kind. 

"  Oh  no  ;  dine  with  us." 

"  Not  to-day  dear  Mrs.  Flukins.     I  have  some  amusino-  thing* 
to  tell  you,  but  they  will  keep  until  I  can  call  again." 

"I  can't  hear  of  a  refusal.     Come,  Henrietta  Maria  will  be  of 
fended  it  you  go  before  dining." 

"The  mention  of  that  dear   name   proves  too  powerful  for  mv 

Twill  ^^  lmd  SCen  th8  haked  dU°k  g°  UP°     F°r  thls 


This  was  at  least  the  five  hundredth  time  the  inflexible  resolution 
of  Mrs.  Greasebeans  had  been  overcome  in  the  same  manner  In 
fact  the  resolution  of  that  estimable  lady  melted  away  like  wax  be 
fore  heat,  in  the  presence  of  a  good  dinner.  All  the  time  she  was 
protesting  so  decidedly  against  dining,  she  was  just  as  certain  of 
being  he  ped  to  a  leg  and  thigh,  (and  eating  it,  too)  her  favorite 
part,  of  that  baked  duck,  as  if  it  was  then  and  there  invitingly  re 
clining  upon  her  plate.  Mrs.  Flukins  so  understood  it,  for  the  sol 
emn  protestation  of  Mrs.  Greasebeans  that  she  had  an  excellent 
dinner  at  home—  a  fabulous  statement—  or  that  Mr.  Greasebeans 
could  not  dine  without  her,  never  ended  by  a  reservation  of  her  ap 
petite  for  the  supposed  dinner,  or  in  enabling  Mr.  Greasebeans  to 
dine  that  day.  She  was  invariably  found  at  the  close  of  the  dininn- 
hour  comfortably  seated  in  the  back  parlor  of  Mrs.  Flukins  red 

in  a  satisfied  appetite  and  plenty  of  champagne,  and  quite  as  re- 


228  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

gardless  of  the  excellent  dinner  at  home  as  she  was  indifferent  to 
the  unfilled  stomach  of  Mr.  Solomon  Greasebeans.  It  was  impos 
sible  to  conceive  a  more  grateful  person  than  Mrs.  Greasebeans, 
when  she  had  dined  heartily,  especially  on  baked  duck;  and  that 
she  had  dined  well  on  the  day  in  question,  was  verified  by  an  en 
tire  skeleton  of  that  animal,  which  was  lying  upon  and  around  her 
plate  at  the  time  preparations  were  made  for  the  fifth  course. 

For  half  an  hour,  therefore,  Mrs.  Greasebeans  continued  to  re 
tail  the  news  which  had  accumulated  on  her  hands,  much  to  her  in 
convenience,  during  the  last  two  days.  The  mottos  of  Mrs. 
Greasebeans,  in  the  news  line,  were,  "  quick  sales"  and  a  "  rapid 
turning  over  of  my  stock  in  trade."  This  she  was  in  the  habit  of 
designating  as  a  comfortable  arrangement  for  herself,  and  doing 
justice  to  the  community  at  large.  This  manifestation  of  a  dispo 
sition  to  "  keep  the  thing  moving"  was  duly  appreciated  by  all  the 
parties  interested  :  and,  consequently,  Mrs.  Greasebeans  was  en 
abled  to  sleep  with  a  conscience  which  is  only  vouchsafed  to  those 
who  are  blessed  with  a  realizing  sense  of  having  performed  their 
duty  to  themselves  and  to  society. 

After  Mrs.  Greasebeans  had  eased  her  mind  in  that  regard,  she 
felt  so  much  better  that  she  concluded  an  airing  in  the  elegant  car 
riage  (damask  lining)  of  Mrs.  Flukins  would  not  be  injurious  to  her 
health.  She  had  a  penchant  for  that  carriage — had  Mrs.  Grease- 
beans,  it  was  so  stylish  ;  and  the  horses  were  so  beautiful,  and  the 
driver  and  footman  looked  so  aristocratic  and  distingue-like.  Mrs. 
Greasebeans  entertained  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  an  ailing  in 
such  an  establishment  was  more  conducive  to  satisfactory  diges 
tion,  than  one  of  less  pretensions  could  possibly  afford.  Hence  she 
was  often  seen  in  fashionable  thoroughfares  with  Mrs.  Flukins, 
whenever  the  nobility  were  out  in  force.  Upon  such  occasions 
Mrs.  Greasebeans  only  recognized  her  most  distinguished  acquaint 
ances,  which  she  did  with  a  marked  flourish,  in  some  cases  extend 
ing  out  of  the  window,  when  it  was  bestowed  upon  a  person  enor 
mously  rich,  or  who  had  an  entree  to  the  saloons  of  the  minor  no 
bility  :  those  friends  who  rode  their  legs,  not  being  observed  upon 
such/occasions.  After  they  had  returned,  Mrs.  Greasebeans  men 
tally  discussed  the  propriety  of  going  home  before  tea.  Mrs.  Flu- 
kins  was  noted  for  delightful  teas ;  and  she  seemed  in  such  excel 
lent  spirits,  that  Mrs.  Greasebeans  thought  there  was  no  danger 
of  boring  her:  a  result  which  she  had  sufficient  tact  to  foresee 
would  occasion  the  loss  of  any  number  of  valuable  dinners.  Nev 
ertheless,  the  ham  and  corned-beef  would  give  Mr.  Solomon  Grease- 
beans  an  excellent  appetite  for  a  substantial  tea.  After  weighing 
the  matter,  she  thought  it  was  worth  the  risk,  and  she  issued  the 
six  hundred  and  fifty-ninth  edition  of  her  eulogies  upon  the  splendid 
furniture  of  the  parlor,  and  the  fascinating  accomplishments  of  Miss 
Henrietta  Maria  Flukins,  which  met  with  a  ready  demand.  The 
cost  was  very  trifling,  because  the  conscience  of  Mrs.  Greasebeans 
was  a  merchantable  article ;  and  the  trouble  was  a  matter  of  quite 
as  little  consideration,  for  she  had  long  since  stereotyped  the  plates. 

As  she  expected,  Mr.  Solomon  Greasebeans  was  announced,  and 
simultaneously  with  his  arrival,  entered  Mumford  Flukins,  Esq. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  229 

The  greeting  between  the  two  gentlemen  was  cordial ;  but  the 
mental  reservation  of  Mumford  Fiukins,  Esq.,  was  any  thing  but 
complimentary  to  his  visitor,  being  nothing  Jess  than  a  voiceless 
opinion  that  "them  Greasebeans  are  the  damdest  sponges  in  her 
majesty's  dominions  :"  a  highly  reprehensible  suggestion,  which  it 
is  not  to  be  supposed  Mr.  Solomon  Greasebeans  or  his  estimable 
sleeping  partner  had  the  slightest  notion  could  be  entertained  by 
the  smiling  Fiukins — an  instance  of  misplaced  confidence,  which 
undoubtedly  has  its  parallel  in  more  cases  than  a  confiding  public 
would  cheerfully  admit. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Greasebeans,"  said  the  insinuating  voice  of  Mr. 
Fiukins,  "  how  goes  on  the  glorious  work  of  emancipation  in 
America  "?" 

"  Much  better  than  we  expected.  The  American  abolitionists 
are  falling  into  the  trap  we  set  for  them,  with  a  stupidity  which  is 
amazing  in  a  people  so  shrewd  upon  all  other  questions." 

"  I  have  often  thought,''  replied  Mr.  Fiukins,  adjusting  his  ele 
gant  cravat,  u  that  they  must  be  demented  not  to  discover  the  trans 
parent  object  we  have  in  view  while  we  are  stimulating  their  fana 
ticism,  which  we  know,  if  they  do  not,  must  end  in  the  dissolution 
of  their  boasted  confederacy." 

"  Yes  ;  and  what  renders  the  whole  subject  a  matter  of  bewilder 
ment  to  me,  is  the  fact  that  they  are  so  very  dull  of  comprehension 
as  not  even  to  suspect  our  motive.  If  fanaticism  had  not  blinded 
the  reason  of  the  ignorant  asses,  they  would  perceive  that  the  mo 
tives  of  the  Duchess  of  Sunderland  and  her  associates  cannot  be 
prompted  by  a  passion  for  liberty,  for  the  suffering  and  despotism 
that  exist  upon  their  estates,  never  were  equalled  upon  the  planta 
tions  of  the  southern  states." 

Mr.  Greasebeatis  carefully  adjusted  iiis  wig  after  this  conscien 
tious  admission,  and  smiled  complacently  upon  his  wife  and  Mrs. 
Fiukins,  its  influence  even  extending  to  Henrietta  Maria,  who  had 
just  entered  the  room. 

"  There  is  another  consideration  that  ought  to  awaken  their  sus 
picions.  If  we  are  so  absorbed  with  the  grand  idea  of  abolishing 
slavery,  why  not — I  speak  it,  of  course,  ironically,  and  with  all  def 
erence  for  her  majesty — establish  a  republic  here  ;  or,  at  all  events, 
raise  the  masses  from  the  worse  than  African  bondage  that  prevails 
under  the  pleasing  rule  of  a  limited  monarchy  1  which,  I  take  it, 
means  a  monarchy  whose  favors  are  limited  to  half  its  subjects." 

And  Mr.  Fiukins  indulged  in  a  sly  smile. 

"  I  have  had  occasion,  as  you  well  know,  Mr.  Fiukins,"  observed 
Mr.  Greasebeans,  confidentially,  "  as  the  president  of  the  associa 
tion  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  United  States,  to  weigh 
carefully  every  ast  of  our  society,  so  as  not  to  awaken  distrust  in 
the  minds  of  our  American  co-laborers,  for  it  is  only  through  them 
that  we  can  accomplish  any  thing,  as  George  Thompson,  M.P., 
found  to  his  cost.  I  have  been  the  more  particular  in  the  manage 
ment  of  our  affairs,  because  I  assume  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  hum 
blest  of  her  majesty's  subjects  to  contribute  his  aid  for  the  mainte 
nance  of  the  present  order  of  things." 

Mr.  Greasebeans,  after  this  annunciation,  thought  it  would  not  be 


230  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

unbecoming  to  indulge  in  a  small  and  modest  cachinnation,  which  he 
proceeded  to  do.  After  having  refreshed  himself  in  this  innocent 
way,  he  proceeded  : 

I  have  not  only  dreaded  that  their  suspicions  might  be  aroused 

\n\i the"iatter  to  which  youHave,  with   so  much  sagacity,  alluded 

(Mr.    Greasebeans   was  unconscious    of  praising  himself.)    but  I 

have  also  apprehended   that  they  might  in  some  unlucky  moment 

the  way  we  are  treating  Ireland— perfectly  justifiable  of 

course,  though  difficult  of  explanation—arid  also  question  the  purity 

f  our  motives  in   laying  waste  the  garden  of  Asia  with  fire  and 

sword.     A  proceeding  also  excusable  upon   tire  authority  of  the 

10  e,  and  the  rales  of  international  law,  though  quite  as  difficult  to 
explain.  And  finally,  I  have  been  in  constant  dread  that  they 
might  inquire  the  reason  why  we  overlook  the  abject  condition,  not 
only  of  our  own  people,  but  more  particularly  the  awful  spectacle 
presented  by  Russia,  where  even  the  semblance  of  liberty  is  ex- 
ded,  where  the  white  man's  life  is  at  the  disposal  of  his  master  ; 
where  there  is  no  law  but  his  untrammelled  will ;  where  they  are 
bought  and  sold  with  the  soil  ;  where  despotism  has  no  check  and 
justice  no  balance  ;  where  the  knout,  the  halter,  and  the  knife  are 
wielded  at  pleasure  ;  and  where  the  subject  has  no  choice  between 
the  joys  of  his  fireside,  the  snows  of  Siberia,  and  death.  A  condi 
tion  of  things  a  hundred  times  worse  than  has  ever  been  pictured 
by  even  Mr.  Roorback.  Why  do  we  desert  our  own  continent  to 
meddle  with  the  affairs  of  another  ?  Why  are  not  our  sympathies 
aroused  for  Russian  serfs  as  well  as  for  African  slaves  ?  Why  do 
we  pass  by  a  greater,  in  order  to  lament  over  a  lesser  evil  ?  Why 
are  we  so  mute  when  observing  the  terrible  condition  of  the  poor 
Russian,  who  is  protected  by  no  law,  and  sheltered  by  no  public 
opinion  ?  and  so  clamorous  while  pitying  the  slave  over  whose 
master  both  law  and  public  opinion  exercise  a  legitimate  control  ? 
J  was  an  American  I  should  propound  these  questions  to  her 
grace  the  Duchess  of  Sunderland,  and  to  every  abolition  society  in 
England.  And  what  reply,  my  dear  Mr.  Flu  kins,  would  truth 
force  from  us  1  Why,  that  we  have  every  thing  to  hope,  and 
nothing  to  fear,  from  the  example  of  Russia,  while  we  have  every 
thing  to  fear,  and  nothing  to  hope,  from  the  example  of  the  great 
western  Republic  !  Do  you  not  think  the  American  abolition 
ists  ought  to  reflect  upon  these  things  ]" 

"  Indeed  I  do,"  replied  Mr.  Flukins,  with  increased  respect  for 
the  acumen  of  Mr.  Solomon  Greasebeans. 

"  So  do  I,  but  they  don't  though,"  said  Mr.  Greasebeans,  rub 
bing  his  hands.  "  They  are  our  tools,  our  blind,  idiotic  tools,  who 
only  have  sufficient  sense  to  do  our  bidding,  and  madly  destroy  the 
only  model  (between  us)  government  on  earth.  We  have  com 
pletely  hoodwinked  them  ;  they  are  as  blind  as  bats,  as  stupid  as 
apes,  and  as  full  of  malignant  hatred  towards  their  glorious  consti 
tution  as  the  most  inveterate  monarchists  could  wish." 

"  You  have  hopes  of  dissolving  the  union]" 

"  Not_  a  doubt  of  it  ;  how  could  it  be  otherwise  with  a  band  of 
abolitionists,  now  swelled  into  the  imposing  appearance  of  a  power 
ful  faction,  whose  support  the  unscrupulous  will  always  try  to  win 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  281 

by  making  concessions  to  their  peculiar  opinions  ?  vA.  faction  that 
already  possesses  sufficient  influence  to  corrupt  and  disorganize 
the  old  parties.  Dissolve  the  union  1  Why  it  is  as  good  as  dis 
solved  already,  and  only  requires  a  few  more  years  of  silent  assault 
by  British  philanthropists  to  be  utterly  and  irremediably  over 
thrown." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

u  A  \voman  moved  is  like  a  fountain  troubled, 
Muddy,  ill-seeming,  thick,  bereft  of  beauty  ; 
And,  while  it  is  so,  none  so  dry  or  thirsty, 
Will  dei.^u  to  dip  or  touch  one  drop  of  it." — SHAKESPEARE. 

THE  attentions  that  were  now  bestowed  upon  Lord  Melville 
would  have  turned  the  head  of  a  man  less  scornful  of  protestations. 
He  did  not  fail  to  observe  that  the  most  decided  exhibitions  of  par 
tiality  came  from  mothers  who  had  daughters  to  dispose  of,  and 
younger  sons,  who  were  engaged  in  the  interesting  occupation  of 
"  raising  the  wind."  The  former  invited  him  to  their  houses  and 
the  latter  invited  him. to  tiie  gambling-table.  The  first  he  disposed 
of  by  informing  them  he  was  not  a  marrying  man,  and  the  last  by 
loaning  them  divers  sums  varying  from  ten  to  one  hundred  pounds, 
according  to  the  position  they  occupied  in  socieiy.  He  turned 
with  loathing  and  disgust  from  flattery  and  dissipation,  while  his 
heart  bled  at  the  misery  which  prevailed  among  the  poor,  that  fash 
ionable  extravagance  might  receive  no  check. 

The  season  was  at  its  height.  Parties,  balls,  theatres,  operas, 
and  concerts,  succeeded  each  other  in  rapid  succession,  as  if  those 
who  so  eagerly  run  after  pleasure  were  exempt  from  the  inexora 
ble  doom  which  cut  others  down  at  their  side,  and  shut  them  out 
for  ever  from  the  bright  earth  which  they  worshipped.  They  were 
blind  to  the  sword  suspended  over  their  heads  by  a  single  hair. 
Others  died,  were  buried  beneath  the  cold,  damp  earth,  to  fester 
and  to  rot  ;  no  more  to  hear  the  voice  of  affection,  never  again  to 
meet  the  look  of  love  ;  chained  to  one  gloomy  spot,  with  no  fellow 
ship  but  corruption,  no  touch,  but  its  remorseless  grasp  ;  no  voice 
but  the  rattling  coffin,  as  it  and  the  remnant  of  mortality  crumbled 
into  dust.  Still  onward  pressed  the  thoughtless  crowd,  as  if  they, 
they  were  ne^er  to  die  ! 

The  Duchess  of  Sunderland  was  the  sagacious  counsellor  of  her 
son,  as^the  opinion  of  the  world  goes.  She  suffered  his  health  and 
Uis  morals  to  take  care  of  themselves,  while  she  watched  over  his 
settlement  in  life.  It  was  more  important,  in  her  opinion,  that 
Melville  should  marry  well,  than  to  live  long,  or  conduct  himself  as 
a  man  of  honor.  The  anxiety  of  her  grace  was  by  no  means  sin- 


282  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

gular.  Society  rather  likes  it  than  otherwise  ;  it  finds  favor  \vith 
most  ambitious  mothers,  and  what  mother  is  not  ambitious  for  her 
son  ? 

The  Duchess  ascertained  that  Melville  did  not  fall  in  love  with 
the  first  pretty  face  that  had  a  smile  for  him  ;  on  the  contrary,  she 
imagined  he  was  more  than  ordinarily  averse  to  anything  like  a 
closer  union  than  a  daily  intercourse  with  his  female  acquaintances. 
She  threw  him  constantly  in  the  way  of  "  good  matches,"  but  some 
how  or  other,  with  the  obstinacy  of  a  bad  "  lucifer,"  he  would  not 
"  take."  (Upon  reflection,  a  diabolical  pun.) 

He  often  met  Sir  William  Belthoven,  who  amused  him  by  his 
frank  admission  of  the  humbug  which  was  practiced  by  politicians 
and  fashionables.  He  often  called  at  the  residence  of  the  Duke  of 
Sunderland,  and  took  Melville  in  his  carriage  to  places  he  thought 
w'ould  interest  him. 

As  the  young  nobleman  was  seated  in  the  library,  a  few  weeks 
after  they  attended  the  theatre  together,  Belthoven  was  announced. 
He  desired  the  company  of  Lord  Melville  for  a  few  hours. 

"  I  do  not  promise  you  much  pleasure  during  this  call." 

"  Then  why  do  you  take  me  there  T'  asked  Melville. 

"To  make  you  acquainted  with  some  ladies,  who  are  highly 
gratified  at  being  called  blues;  and  with  others,  who  are  so  much 
dissatisfied  with  the  sphere  in  which  society  requires  them  to  move, 
that  they  wish  to  encroach  upon  ours." 

"  Shall  we  meet  an  advocate  of  woman's  rights  ?"  inquired  Mel 
ville,  with  a  degree  of  interest  that  surprised  Belthoven. 

"  Yes,  one  of  the  most  formidable  of  their  lecturers." 

"  What  manner  of  woman  is  she  T' 

"  She  is  not  only  a  stout  supporter  of  what  she  calls  the  "right" 
of  her  sex  to  practice  law  and  medicine,  but  she  is  supposed  to 
have  a  decided  predilection  for  certain  garments  that  have  hitherto 
belonged  to  the  male  sex." 

"  What  can  induce  them  to  put  forth  such  extraordinary  preten 
sions  ?" 

"  Some  persons  are  ungracious  enough  to  declare  that  it  is  owing 
to  the  h'ermaphroditish  nature  of  those  individuals  ;  and  they  even 
go  so  far  as  to  insist,  that,  from  their  proclivities,  and  the  mascu 
line  direction  of  their  thoughts,  they  are  not  proper  associates  for 
the  female  sex,  but  should  be  required  to  organize  a  community 
apart  from  those  whose  oneness  is  unmistakable." 

"  A  shrewd  idea,"  said  Melville,  as  he  ejected  the  stump  of  a 
cigar  from  the  window. 

"Indeed,  so  confident  are  they  of  the  correctness  of  their 
opinions,  that  they  do  not  hesitate  to  assign  reasons  therefor,  the 
most  cogent  of  which  are  the  coarseness  of  feature,  strength  of 
form,  roughness  of  manner,  and  absence  of  that  sensitiveness  and 
delicacy  which  characterize  a  lady,  and  distinguish  her  fr*m  an 
hermaphrodite  and  a  man." 

"Very  possible,"  said  the  nobleman,  sententiously. 

"  Not  satisfied  with  this  ^charge  against  persons  whom  they 
accuse  of  having  mixed  natures,  they  specify  the  causes  which  pro 
duce  this  vehement  desire  for  woman's  rights.  They  say  it  is 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  283 

attributable  to  the  vulgar  natures  and  peculiar  temperaments  of 
the  different  individuals,  and  to  the  want  of  attention,  not  to  say 
admiration,  with  which  the  sterner  sex  never  fail  to  honor  beauty, 
especially  when  it  is  adorned  with  modesty." 

"But  the  lecturer — does  she  grace  the  hustings'?"  asked 
Melville. 

"  I  cannot  say  I  admire  her  ;  she  has  a  disagreeable  expression 
about  the  mouth  when  she  speaks — what  a  young  lady  called  a 
floppy  expression,  when  saying  she  always  felt  inclined  to  strike 
the  said  mouth  with  the  back  of  her  hand,  whenever  that  feature 
was  more  than  ordinarily  loquacious.  This  she  declared  to  be  a 
great  temptation,  even  in  the  social  circle.  But  when  its  contor 
tions  were  brought  into  full  play,  upon  the  hustings,  the  impulse 
became  almost  irresistible,  and  would  positively  require  gratifica 
tion,  but  for  a  decent  respect  for  the  feelings  of  the  auditory,  and  a 
proper  regard  for  the  garments  of  the  hateful  individual." 

"  Personal  ugliness  is  certainly  a  decided  objection  in  a  declaimer. 
But  this  Mis.— Mrs.— " 

"  Mrs.  Duke." 

"  This  Mrs,  Duke  itinerates,  I  presume,  for  the  purpose  of  gra 
tuitously  instructing  her  sex  ?" 

"  Not  at  all,  my  dear  fellow  ;  she  charges  as  much  fur  an  admis 
sion  to  her  lectures  as  they  are  worth." 

"  Then,  her  efforts  are  not  entirely  disinterested." 

"  Come,  now,  Melville,  do  not  be  guilty  of  injustice.  There  is 
very  little  disinterested  philanthropy  manifested  in  this  world  by 
men  or  women." 

"  I  believe  not." 

"  Mrs.  Duke  does  not  despise  money,  and  she  is  fond  of 
applause." 

"There  are  a  sufficient  number  of  slang  allusions  interspersed 
throughout  her  lectures  to  enable  the  hi  !  hi !  boys  to  express  their 
approbation.  But  this  is  the  house." 

A  dozen  persons  were  assembled  in  the  drawing-room  when  Belt- 
hoven  and  his  companion  entered,  and  beside  the  sagacious  counte 
nances  of  some  elderly  ladies,  they  beheld  the  sweet  faces  of  sev 
eral  maidens.  They  imagined  that  being  seen  in  the  company  of 
literary  females  would  induce  the  belief  that  their  own  hours  were 
surrendered  to  the  acquisition  of  classic  lore.  Belthoven  remem 
bered  that  they  had  resorted  to  several  other  expedients  to  obtain 
husbands.  These,  he  presumed,  had  proved  abortive,  as  they  were 
staking  their  last  chance  upon  blue  stockingism. 

Melville  engaged  a  beautiful  girl  in  conversation.  She  had  just 
stepped  from  childhood  into  society,  and  her  charming  naivete 
amused  him  exceedingly. 

Belthoven  was  not  so  fortunate.  He  had  almost  succeeded  in 
passing  the  knot  of  blues,  who,  with  a  consciousness  of  possessing 
masculine  qualities,  boldly  occupied  the  centre  of  the  room,  when 
the  veritable  Mrs.  Duke  addressed  him — 

"  What  did  you  think  of  my  last  lecture,  Sir  William  ?" 

"  I  had  a  strong  inclination  during  its  delivery,  to  propound  cer 
tain  interrogatories." 

11* 


234  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

•  "  Let  me  hear  them  now,1'  replied  Mrs.  Duke,  as  she  squared 
herself,  like  a  boxer;  though  with  both  toes  turned  in,  and  form 
erect.  When  she  had  thus  assumed  position,  and  cast  a  triumphant 
glance  around  the  room,  she  inclined  her  head  with  an  affectation 
of  modesty  a  little  upon  one  side,  while  her  somewhat  extensive 
foot  caressed  the  carpet. 

The  Baronet  looked  about  him  as  though  he  would  gladly  effect 
a  retreat ;  but  all  eyes  were  riveted  upon  them.  Cursing  the  folly 
which  prompted  him  to  rush  into  a  discussion,  he  raisejd  his  eyes  to 
the  countenance  of  his  formidable  opponent.  Hers  were  fixed  with 
a  remorseless  and  taunting  expression  upon  him,  and  the  floppy 
movement  of  her  lips  became  more  than  ordinarily  disagreeable  as 
she  inquired — 

"  Shall  we  not  be  favored  with  your  inquiries  now,  Sir  William?" 
"  Yes,  Madame,  to  your  heart's  content,"  he  mentally  exclaimed, 
as,  with  a  powerful  exertion,  he  controlled  his  rage  and  contempt. 
"  I  felt  strongly  lempted  to  ask  you,  Mrs.  Duke,  why  you  inflicted 
upon  your  audience  such  vague  generalities  and  unmeaning  words, 
when  you  were  pretending  to  communicate  information,  and  incul 
cate  new  ideas  ?" 

For  a  few  moments  Mrs.  Duke  was  confounded  by  the  audacity 
of  the  Baronet. 

"  I  was  not  aware,  sir,  that  my  language  was  either  vague  or  ob 
scure." 

"  Then,  madam,  while  you  are  not  only  asserting  the  rights  of 
your  sex,  but  assuming  the  position  of  a  teacher,  you  have  failed  to 
arrange  your  ideas,  or  to  acquire  a  terse,  compact,  or  even  intelli 
gible  style." 

A  flush  of  indignation  overspread  the  countenance  of  Mrs.  Duke 
as  she  replied — "  Your  criticism  is  frank,  to  use  no  harsher  phrase." 
"  It  can  be  understood,  at  all  events.  If,  following  your  advice, 
the  softer  sex  throw  themselves  into  the  busy  scenes  of  life,  they 
will  be  fortunate  enough  if  they  receive  no  rougher  treatment  than 
is  implied  in  the  word  frankness.  But  to  convince  you  that  I  am 
not  guilty  of  injustice,  [  have  merely  to  say  that  T  passed  several 
knots  of  your  auditors,  who  differed  in  opinion  as  to  the  points  you 
were  endeavoring  to  establish.  Now  it  has  been  the  aim  of  all 
men  who  have  sought  renown  as  writers  or  orators,  to  make  them 
selves  understood,  ft  was  the  terse,  pointed,  compact  language  of 
Junius  and  Calhoun,  that  gave  them  a  world-wide  celebrity — a  ce 
lebrity  that  could  never  have  been  obtained  by  stringing  together 
unmeaning  words  and  thoughtless  phrases,  which  tickle  the  fancy 
without  approaching  the  judgment.'' 

"  Am  I  to  infer  from  your  language  that  you  think  me  disqualified 
for  the  duties  of  a  lecturer  ?"  inquired  Mrs.  Duke  with  a  supercil 
ious  look. 

"  Far  be  it  from  me  to  take  upon  myself  the  character  of  a 
judge — " 

"  I  thought  it  would  be  rather  presumptuous  !"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Duke,  who  was  evidently  moved. 

"  I  will  remark,  however,  since  I  have  been  dragged  into  this 
discussion,  that  the  most  celebrated  orators  and  reformers  studied, 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  233 

with  a  painful  devotion,  the  best  models.  The  structure  of  lan 
guage,  the  arrangement  of  thought,  the  modes  or'  expression,  were 
examined  and  compared  for  months  and  years  before  an  attempt 
was  made  to  enlighten  others.  They  were  never  guilty  of  the  ar 
rogance  of  becoming  teachers  before  they  were  themselves  in 
formed." 

Mrs.  Duke  was  petrified  at  such  boldness  ;  and  yielding  the  prom 
inent  position  which  she  had  hitherto  occupied,  she  seated  herself 
upon  a  sofa,  and  glared  at  him  as  if  she  would  learn  the  extent  of 
his  presumption. 

"  Although  your  language  was  obscure,  I  think  you  intended  to 
be  understood  as  claiming  for  your  sex  the  right  to  practice  law,  to 
vote,  to  heal  the  sick,  and  to  mingle  more  freely  with  men  in  the 
transactions  of  life." 

Mrs.  Duke  bowed. 

"And  you  assign  as  a  reason  for  demanding  such  an  extraordi 
nary  enlargement  of  your  sphere,  that  the  tender  natures  of  women 
will  mitigate  the  cruelties  of  which  men  are  guilty,  by  acquiring 
more  influences  with,  and  obtaining  greater  power  over  our  sex, 
than  you  now  exercise  ?" 

Mrs.  Duke  bowed  again. 

"  Now,  madam,  the  reverse  of  these  propositions  I  will  take  up 
on  myself  to  maintain." 

"  Impossible." 

';  I  assure  you  my  opinions  are  capable  of  demonstration.  If 
your  programme  is  adopted,  the  result  will  be,  first,  the  loss  of  that 
tenderness,  sensibility,  and  modesty,  which  constitute  the  foundation 
of  your  power ;  and  second,  shorn  of  these  attractions,  you  can  no 
longer  fascinate  and  control  us  by  the  magical  influence  of  love  and 
admiration." 

"  I  shall  consider  you  a  wonderful  reasoner,  if  you  can  satisfy  me 
of  the  truth  of  your  assertions,"  said  Mrs.  Duke,  sarcastically. 

"  If  I  can,  it  will  relieve  you  from  the  trouble  of  redressing  the 
supposed  wrongs  of  half  the  human  race.  I  would  be  called  a 
cruel,  not  to  say  wicked  man,  if,  having  the  power,  I  should  obsti 
nately  refuse  to  exercise  it,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  from  your 
path  this  mighty  responsibility.  la  making  the  effort,  my  remarks 
shall  be  intelligible. 

"  First — The  career  which  you  propose  for  the  adoption  of  your 
sex,  would  occasion  the  loss  of  that  tenderness,  sensibility,  and 
modesty  which«constitute  the  foundation  of  your  power. 

•'  I  need  not  remind  you  how  inexpressibly  dear  to  infancy  is  fe 
male  tenderness.  It  soothes  the  wounded  spirit,  banishes  weari 
ness,  alleviates  pain,  guides  the  tottering  steps,  and  encourages  the 
lisping  voice.  As  childhood  struggles  up  into  manhood,  female  sen^ 
sibil ities  are  its  strongest  support — with  whatever  opinions  others 
may  regard  our  emotions,  we  are  certain  to  find  sympathizers  in 
mothers  and  sisters.  Their  hearts  beat  responsively  to  our  own, 
and  while  turning  aside  the  heaviest  blows  of  fortune,  we  are  ever 
cheered  on  by  their  approbation.  They  become  at  once  our  coun 
sellors  and  our  friends,  and  to  them  we  confide  hopes  and  fears  that 
are  proudly  withheld  from  the  sterner  sex. 


*36  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  And  when  man  seeks  a  helpmate,  he  remembers  that  '  modesty' 
is  the  highest  quality  which  adorns  a  woman  :  and,  passing  by  the 
female  who,  assuming  a  brazen  face,  demands  the  admiration  of 
men,  he  seeks  one  whose  aspirations,  like  the  fragrance  of  a  delicate 
flower,  lingers  around  its  own  beautiful  form  ;  revealing  her  power, 
as  it  does  its  sweetness,  within  the  sacred  precincts  of  home. 

"  If  these  arrest  affection  and  elicit  love,  what  must  be  the  influ 
ence  of  adverse  qualities  ?  Fatal,  indeed  ! 

"  I  believe  it  is  not  denied  that  woman  can  reach  a  lower  depth 
of  mental  degradation  than  man.  If  this  is  a  correct  assumption, 
it  may  be  interesting  to  examine  the  causes  which  precipitate  her 
from  the  realm  of  purity  and  virtue,  where  she  commands  our  re 
spect,  to  the  slough  of  infamy,  where  contempt  cannot  reach  her. 
Their  downward  tendency  is  accelerated  by  the  manners  of  the  age 
— by  local  conventionalities — or  by  the  folly  of  classes.  During 
the  reigns  of  Charles  the  Second  of  England  and  Louis  the  Fif 
teenth  of  France,  there  was  a  frightful  prostitution  of  morals,  and 
virtue  unavailingly  resisted  the  progress  of  corruption.  Sometimes 
the  moral  blight  was  confined  to  localities,  and  elsewhere  goodness 
maintained  its  power.  The  vices  of  Paris  were  unknown  in  the 
Provinces,  and  they  only  were  liable  to  imbibe  the  venomous  exha 
lations  from  a  diseased  society,  who  came  within  its  influence. 
That  one  class  may  become  noted  for  a  shameless  disregard  of  the 
proprieties  of  life,  is  proved  by  the  description  given  of  Sarah, 
Duchess  of  Marlborough,  who  made  her  appearance  at  the  cham 
bers  of  Lord  Mansfield,  before  he  was  elevated  to  the  bench. 

' '  I  could  not  make  out,  sir,  who  she  was,'  said  the  clerk,  '  for 
she  would  not  tell  me  her  name  ;  but  she  swore  so  dreadfully  that 
she  must  have  been  a  lady  of  quality.'  " 

The  conversation  was  hushed  throughout  the  room,  and  the  com 
pany  listened  to  the  remarks  of  Sir  William. 

"You  have  described  the  influence  of  tenderness,  sensibility,  and 
modesty  as  elements  in  the  female  character,"  said  Melville  ;  "  I 
should  be  pleased  to  hear  your  reasons  for  supposing  that  the  career 
assigned  them  by  the  advocates  of  woman's  rights,  would  destroy 
or  impair  those  estimable  qualities." 

"  Yes,  that  is  precisely  what  we  are  anxious  to  hear,"  said  Mrs. 
Duke,  as  she  rewarded  Melville  with  a  gracious  smile. 

"  And  that  is  precisely  what  I  am  ready  to  communicate.  I  an 
nounce,  as  a  proposition  which  cannot  be  denied,  that  character  is 
essentially  moulded  by  prevailing  customs. 

"  To  illustrate  : — Cannibals  serve  up  human  beings  with  as  much 
nonchalance  as  an  American  housewife  would  a  pig.  Indians  tor 
ture  their  prisoners.  A  Pagan  bows  to  his  idol ;  Mahommedans  be 
lieve  in  one  God,  and  one  Prophet ;  Catholics  reverence  the 
Pope  ;  while  Protestants  ridicule  his  pretensions.  A  nun  shrinks 
from  the  gaze  of  the  world  ;  an  Amazon  mounts  her  steed  and  goes 
forth  to  battle.  The  man  of  God  teaches  mercy  ;  the  warrior  im 
molates  his  foe.  The  modest  girl  keeps  her  person  covered  ;  the 
belle  traverses  the  muddy  street  to  reveal  it.  A  sensitive  woman 
robes  her  form  ;  a  ballet-dancer  studies  how  much  she  may  dis 
close.  The  conscious  blood  mounts  to  the  cheek  of  a  modest  fe- 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  23 1 

male,  at  an  indelicate  allusion  ;  habit  causes  her  to  applaud  vul 
garity  when  it  does  not  even  possess  the  poor  merit  of  a  double  en 
tendre. 

"  Now,  madam,  if  the  human  mind  is  so  flexible,  what  must  be 
the  result,  if  woman  assumes  the  hardening,  nay,  corrupting  duties 
of  our  sex?  If  she  practices  law,  how  long  will  the  impatient 
blood  mantle  her  cheek,  as  vulgar  testimony  is  given  to  the  jury  ? 
When  will  the  shrinking  modesty  which  lights  up  her  countenance 
like  a  ray  from  heaven  yield  to  brazen  effrontery  1  If  she  studies 
physic  and  surgery,  how  soon  will  she  acquire  that  insensibility  to 
suffering  which  enables  the  practitioner  to  amputate  a  limb  with 
cool  indifference,  or  to  witness  dying  throes  without  emotion  ?  If 
she  mounts  the  hustings,  how  indispensable  will  become  the  "  hi  !  hi ! 
hi  !"  of  the  populace.  All  these  things  will  produce  a  roughness 
of  manner,  an  obtuseness  of  feeling,  a  violence  of  temper,  totally 
inconsistent  with  our  opinions  of  female  excellence.  If  such  must 
be  the  effect  of  your  system,  women  will  be  rendered  incompetent 
to  perform  the  duties  which  you  are  anxious  to  assign  them." 

''  How  is  that  possible]"  asked  Mrs.  Duke,  in  a  querulous  tone. 

"  She  cannot  temper  the  passions  of  men  with  justice,  because 
her  own  do  not  slumber  ;  she  becomes  indifferent  to  the  sufferings 
of  others,  for  her  sensibilities  are  destroyed  ;  she  cannot  uphold  the 
barrier  which  mercy  has  erected  to  stay  the  wickedness  of  men, 
because  that  which  a  benign  Providence  gave  her  for  her  own  pro 
tection  is  broken  down  and  destroyed." 

"  I  should  like  to  hear  something  else  beside  mere  assertion," 
said  Mrs.  Duke,  tartly. 

"  You  have  studied  nistory  to  little  purpose,  madam,  if  illustra 
tion  is  necessary.  Nay,  you  are  chargeable  with  positive  indiscre 
tion,  in  assuming  the  right  to  lecture  others,  without  having  been 
impressed  with  these  facts,  while  observing  the  ordinary  transac 
tions  of  life." 

"•  Indeed  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Duke,  as  she  vigorously  fanned  her 
self. 

"  Unquestionably.  You  would  have  women  exercise  the  func 
tion  of  men,  for  the  purpose  of  softening  their  natures  ?  Well, 
some  of  your  sex  have  been  intrusted  with  power.  Catharine, 
Empress  of  Russia,  was  celebrated  alike  for  her  unpitying  cruelty 
and  unblushing  profligacy.  Maria  Theresa  exulted  over  the  car 
nage  of  battle-fields.  Elizabeth  was  an  unfeeling  monarch,  whose 
jealousy  compelled  her  to  sacrifice  friends  and  foes.  Cleopatra 
possessed  beauty  and  fascination,  but  they  were  at  the  services  of 
the  lover  who  could  bid  the  highest  for  them.  Lady  Macbeth  con 
templated  murder  without  remorse.  Isabella  obtained  a  notoriety 
quite  as  infamous  as  her  favorite  Mortimer,  by  the  terrible  death  of 
Edward  the  Second.  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  by  uniting  herself 
to  the  murderer  of  her  husband,  justified  the  charge  that  she  con 
nived  at  his  assassination.  And  '  bloody  Mary,'  the  most  vindic 
tive  and  remorseless  tyrant  who  ever  disgraced  the  throne  of  Eng 
land,  was  followed  to  the  'portals  of  the  tomb,'  by  the  execrations 
of  outraged  humanity.  The  disgraceful,  conduct  of  these  women 
fiends,  illustrates  the  fact  that  an  habitual  contemplation  of  suffer- 


'283  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

ing  and  crime,  instead  of  sharpening-  our  sensibilities,  as  you  be 
lieve,  has  the  effect  of  first  paralyzing  and  then  destroying  them." 

"  It  is  singular  you  did  not  mention  the  name  of  Queen  Anne," 
said  Mrs.  Duke,  tauntingly. 

"  I  did  not  allude  to  Queen  Anne  because  her  memory  is  below 
criticism.  You  have  not  forgotten  the  reply  of  Lady  Churchill 
when  accused  of  employing  supernatural  influences,  in  her  inter 
view  with  the  Queen,  that  she  controlled  her  Majesty  not  by  witch 
craft,  but  by  the  magic  of  superior  intellect.  Look  at  the  "French, 
Scotch,  Irish,  German  ;  aye,  and  American  women,  too,  who  labor 
beneath  roofs,  or,  what  is  still  worse,  in  the  field.  What  has  toil 
and  exposure  effected?  It  has  deadened  their  sensibilities,  bronzed 
their  complexions,  wrinkled  their  foreheads,  bent  their  forms, 
soured  their  tempers,  and  placed  them  beyond  the  influence  of  ro 
mance." 

"  But  we  do  not  intend  to  labor,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Duke. 

"  Why  then  do  you  claim  the  privilege,  if  you  do  not  expect  to 
perform  the  duties  of  men  1  If  you  would  become  merchants,  you 
must  visit  the  docks.  If  you  practice  law,  the  drudgery  of  the 
office  and  the  court  room  cannot  be  transferred  to  another.  One 
whose  office  it  is  to  heal  the  sick,  must  not  shrink  from  exposure 
to  cold  and  heat.  If  your  ambition  points  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
earth,  your  field  operations  will  require  unremitting  attention.  Ab 
sorbed  by  such  duties,  what  time  will  you  have  for  the  adornment 
of  your  person,  or  the  cultivation  and  refinement  of  your  intellect  1 
Your  '  rights'  are  acknowledged,  but  in  the  loss  of  tenderness,  sen 
sibility,  and  modesty,  your  legitimate  control  over  our  sex  is  gone 
for  ever.  That  which  we  cheerfully  accorded  to  graceful  weak 
ness,  we  withhold  when  claimed  by  coat  and  boots.  In  ceasing  to 
rely  upon  our  protection,  you  forfeit  that  watchful  care  which  is 
your  surest  and  safest  defence." 

"  There  is  another  decided  objection  to  the  doctrine  advocated 
by  Mrs.  Duke.  We  have  duties  at  home  which  nobody  else  can 
or  will  perform,"  said  a  lady,  whose  son  had  that  day  astonished 
the  court  and  jury  by  a  brilliant  forensic  effort. 

"  I  was  about  to  allude  to  that  subject,"  replied  Belthoven,  as 
he  gracefully  bowed  to  the  matron.  "  Look  at  our  weekly  bills  of 
mortality  !  How  many  of  those  who  are  daily  deposited  in  their 
silent  homes,  have  not  passed  the  boundaries  of  childhood  ?  What 
is  the  cause  of  this  fearful  mortality?  It  must  be  traced  to  igno 
rance  or  neglect.  And  what  excuse  is  there  for  such  culpability, 
not  to  say  wickedness  ?  If  the  mother  suffers  her  offspring  to  pe 
rish  because  she  is  unacquainted  with  her  duties,  she  ought  to  qua 
lify  herself  to  save  the  being  intrusted  to  her  charge  instead  of 
clamoring  for  woman's  rights  !  If  she  wilfully  neglects  the  help 
less  infant  and  suffers  its  little  form  to  struggle  unavailingly  with 
diseases,  until  the  feeble  body  can  no  longer  resist  the  embrace  of 
death,  she  should  implore  divine  mercy  to  sharpen  her  moral  per 
ceptions,  instead  of  engaging  in  a  conflict  for  woman's  rights  ? 
With  the  attention  bestowed,  even  now,  to  the  nursery,  thousands 
are  cut  off  in  childhood  ;  but  if  you  obtain  additional  cares  and  new 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  239 

responsibilities,  there  will  be  a  serious  interference  with  the  popu 
lation  of  the  earth." 

''  You  think,  then,  that  women  are  fitted  for  drudgery  alone,  and 
that  they  should  he  satisfied  with  rocking  cradles,  making  shirts, 
and  sewing  on  buttons  !"  said  Mrs.  Duke,  scornfully. 

"  If  such  conclusions  are  drawn  from  my  argument  I  have 
spoken  to  little  purpose.  No,  madam ;  I  would  relieve  her  from 
drudgery,  by  intrusting  to  man's  stronger  frame  and  sterner 
will,  the  rougher  duties  of  life.  The  sphere  retained  by  woman 
is  large  enough.  Society  has  claims  upon  her  which  she  cannot 
meet,  if  her  time  is  devoted  to  the  realities  of  the  outer  world. 
She  must  qualify  herself  to  become  the  companion  and  counsellor 
of  her  husband,  and  the  moulder  of  destinies,  which  Providence, 
in  giving  her  children,  has  committed  to  her  charge.  There  is 
no  cause  for  the  restlessness  which  pervades  your  little  circle.  The 
temale  sex  are  almost  unanimous  in  their  approval  of  our  social 
regulation.  They  do  not  demand  an  extension  of  their  privileges 
or  their  responsibilities,  and  I  venture  the  assertion,  that  the  pop 
ular  movement  which  places  the  estate  of  the  wife  at  her  own  dis 
posal,  can  be  traced  to  the  justice  and  affection  of  our  sex,  and  not 
to  the  clamor  of  yours. 

"  And  why  should  they  not  be  satisfied  ?  Have  not  the  men 
whose  deeds  occupy  the  largest  space  in  the  compilation  of  the 
historian,  admitted  that  the  foundation  of  their  fortunes  was  laid 
by  female  hands'?  Are  not  the  praises  of  your  children  constantly 
elevating  a  monument  more  enduring  than  the  baseless  fabric  of  a 
vision,  upon  which  you  would  rest  your  hopes  1  Cannot  the  chiv 
alrous  tenderness  and  gallantry  with  which  you  are  treated  satisfy 
your  ambition  ?  Or  will  you  cast  aside  that  confidence  in  our  sex 
which  has  rarely  been  betrayed — throw  off  that  gentleness  which 
is  your  safest  protection — disrobe  yourself  of  that  modesty  which 

the  basis  of  your  power,  and  thus  shorn  of  your  strength,  com- 

ence  a  warfare  upon  public  opinion,  to  be  succeeded,  if  that  prove 
unavailing,  by  the  sterner  conflict  of  arms  ?" 

As  Belthoven  concluded,  decided  marks  of  approbation  were 
heard  throughout  the  room. 

"  I  thank  you,  on  behalf  of  my  sex,  for  the  ability  which  you 
have  displayed  in  assailing  some  of  the  fallacies  of  the  present 
day,"  said  the  lady  who  had  once  before  addressed  him. 

"  I  must  apologize  for  occupying  so  much  time,  but  that  was 
partly  owing  to  an  imprudent  denial  that  the  lecture  of  my  fair  an 
tagonist  was  the  perfection  of  oratory.  I  shall  be  more  cautious 
in  future." 

Refreshments  were  now  brought  in,  and  the  conversation  became 
general. 

"  Belthoven,  who  are  those  persons  occupying  the  sofa  yonder  ? 
While  listening  to  you  they  were,  nevertheless,  strongly  attracted 
towards  each  other." 

"  I  will  tell  you,  Melville.  The  man  belongs  to  that  class  of 
persons  who  are  so  intensely  desirous  of  mourning  for  somebody, 
that  they  occasionally  put  crape  upon  their  hats  when  their  rela 
tions  are  all  in  the  enjoyment  of  lamentably  good  health.  The 


240  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

female  belongs  to  another  class,  who  wish  to  compromise  with  the 
Almighty  by  inducing  him  to  pardon  their  insatiable  avarice,  as  a 
reward  for  ostentatious  charity.  The  individual  who  has  joined 
them,  is  known  as  the  person  who  carries  two  faces  under  one  hat. 
They  are  a  charming  trio." 

"  Ah  !  ah  !  you  are  i'  the  mood  for  criticism  to-night,"  said 
Melville,  as  he  resumed  his  seat  by  the  side  of  the  girl  who  had 
captivated  his  fancy. 

With  what  eagerness  these  men  of  the  world  turn  aside  from 
the  current,  down  which  fashionable  women  are  crowding  and  jost 
ling  each  other,  in  the  struggle  for  admiration,  to  the  tranquil'bay, 
in  whose  untroubled  waters  the  barge  of  innocence  is  still  moored, 
while  its  happy  owner  is  gathering  flowers  upon  the  bank,  or  re 
posing  beneath  the  foliage  whose  blossoms  perfume  the  air. 

The  saloons  of  the  Countess  of  Memberton  were  crowded  by 
the  rank,  beauty,  fashion,  and  intellect  of  London.  It  was  the  party 
of  the  season.  Not  only  were  all  the  lions  of  English  society  pre 
sent,  but  foreign  countries  were  represented  by  diplomatists  and  per 
sons  occupying  high  public  stations  ;  for  ivealth,  alone,  found  much 
difficulty  in  foisting  its  possessor  into  the  exclusive  circles  of 
London. 

Lord  Melville  entered  with  Sir  William  Belthoven.  Both  were 
graciously  received  by  the  Countess — the  first  for  his  rank,  and 
the  last  for  his  agreeable  manners.  They  passed  through  the 
rooms. 

"  Yonder  stands  the  French  Ambassador,  decked  out  in  a  court 
dress,  which  indicates  the  fondness  of  his  nation  for  gaudy  trap 
pings,"  said  Belthoven.  "  Still  further  on  is  the  American 
Minister." 

"  The  one  with  the  tall  form,  venerable  appearance,  and  plain 
attire  ?" 

"  The  same." 

"  The  Americans  may  well  be  proud  of  such  a  representation. 
What  are  his  antecedents  f 

"  Minister  to  Russia,  an  American  Senator,  Secretary  of 
State,  and  an  aspirant  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States." 

"  Unsuccessful,  of  course,  or  he  would  not  be  here  ?" 

"  Yes,  he  was  too  well  known." 

"  Surely,  that  was  not  considered  an  objection." 

"  Undoubtedly  ,  during  his  long  political  career  he  has  made 
too  many  enemies,  awakened  the  envy  of  too  many  rivals.  Egad  ! 
Lord  Memberton  has  presented  Lady  Katharine  Montague  to 
him.  With  what  a  complaisant  air  he  inclines  his  head  upon  one 
side.  She  is  evidently  pleased  with  the  conversation  of  the  old 
bachelor." 

*'  Let  us  proceed,"  said  Melville. 

"  Ah  !  Snizzle,  how  are  you  V  said  the  baronet,  unctiously.  ' 

"  Well's  could  be  expected.     Rooms  too  demm'd  quowded." 

"  Your  lordship  is  jostled." 

"  Yes,  by  quitters  who  have  not  been  noble  more  than  ten  or  fif 
teen  vears." 


AXD  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  241 

"  Did  it  ever  occur  to  your  lordship,  that  there  are  some  human 
beings  who  have  not  been  ennobled  by  the  decrees  either  of  nature 
or  royalty  ?"  said  Melville. 

"  No  !  are  they  ?  I  thought  majesty  could  make  any  person  a 
nobleman,"  replied  Timothy,  Lord  Snizzle. 

"  Majesty  can  confer  the  title,  but  your  lordship  is  a  standing 
illustration  of  the  fact,  that  nature  is  the  only  skillful  artificer  of 
true  nobility  of  soui." 

Lord  Snizzle  pondered  upon  these  words  after  Melville  and  the 
baronet  had  resumed  their  walk. 

I'm  demmed  if  his  language  wasn't  insulting.  I'll  call  him  out, 
dem  me  if  I  don't;  that  is,  if  Sir  Pertinax  McFlummux  advises 
it,"  muttered  Snizzle,  as  he  thrust  his  glass  into  the  socket  of  his 
eye,  and  proceeded  to  inspect  the  company  with  the  orb  thus  forti 
fied,  while  the  other  maintained  a  vague  expression,  as  if  the 
responsibility  of  a  faithful  performance  of  duties,  that  usually 
devolved  upon  both,  now  rested  upon  the  glassed  one  alone. 

Who  is  that  splendid-looking  woman,  who  manages  to  retain  a 
circle  of  admiring  gentlemen  around  her?" 

•'  That  is  the  Marchioness  of  Berkley,  widow  of  the  late  Mar 
quis  of  Berkley." 

"  What  !  the  lady  who  created  so  great  a  sensation  in  Paris  last 
winter?" 

"  Yes.  She  laid  aside  her  .grief  and  her  weeds  at  the  same 
time,  and  it  was  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  the  auspicious  event 
occurred  at  the  commencement  of  the  fashionable  season.  I  have 
often  observed,  that  grief,  whieji  appeared  to  every  one  inconsola 
ble,  miraculously  takes  its  departure  jubt  before  a  ball  at  Windsor 
Castle,  or  a  magnificent  soiree  at  Almacks." 

"  Was  there  not  a  little  bit  of  scandal  connected  with  the  illus 
trious  name  of  the  marchioness,  before  she  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  death  of  her  husband." 

"  Oh  yes  ;  just  enough  to  gratify  her  dearest  friends.  No  posi 
tive  proofs  were  discovered  ;  you  know  there  never  are,  unless 
the  injured  party  applies  for  a  divorce.  You  see  the  malicious, 
who  are  probably  no  purer  themselves,  like  to  turn  over  frailty, 
and  hence  it  is  generally  better  to  hush  up  any  little  foibles. 
Besides  the  exposure  makes  the  relations  feel  so  uncomfortable." 
"  Who  was  the  gay  Lothario  ?" 

"  It  has  never  been  deemed  safe  to  mention  his  name,  as  royal 
blood  flows  in  his  veins. '? 
"  She  is  a  magnificent-looking  creature." 

"  Not  twenty-five,  yet,  either.  She  classes  you  among  her 
admirers,"  said  Belthoven,  as  he  returned  the  graceful  bow  of  the 
marchioness. 

"  How  so  1  I  have  never  spoken  to  her." 

"  But  your  eyes  have  expressed  your  admiration.  Come,  will 
you  be  presented  ?" 

A  negative  response  was  upon  his  lips,  when  he  saw  Katharine 
Montague  pass,  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  the  young  Duke  of  Gilder- 
mier,  and  listening  to  his  low  voice,  as  if  she  was  fascinated  by  his 
words. 


242  ENGLISH   SERFDOM 

"  Certainly." 

The  knot  of  gentlemen  who  surrounded  the  marchioness  gave 
way,  as  the  baronet  and  Lord  Melville  advanced. 

The  former  exchanged  salutations  with  the  lady. 

'•  Will  you  allow  rne  to  present  to  your  ladyship  my  particular 
friend,  Lord  Melville  ?" 

"  Willingly,"  said  the  marchioness,  frankly  extending  her  hand, 
and  Buffering  it  to  remain  a  few  moments  within  his  own. 

"  I  have  long  desired  an  introduction  to  the  sou  of  my  dearest 
friend." 

"  I  thank  your  ladyship  for  such  flattering  words." 

"  And  how  is  your  mother  T' 

"  Quite  well.  I  thank  you." 

"  Is  she  iiere  to-night?" 

"  I  saw  her  in  yonder  saloon  a  few  moments  ago." 

"  Come  ;  I  am  sure  you  will  conduct  rne  to  her." 

Bowing  to  the  circle  that  yet  surrounded  her,  the  marchioness 
confidingly  took  Melville's  arm. 

It  was  doubtless  by  the  merest  accident  that  she  proceeded  in 
the  opposite  direction  to  the  one  indicated  by  him  as  the  spot  where 
the  Duchess  of  Sunderland  was  to  be  found. 

The  pressure  of  lace,  brocades,  and  diamonds  increased,  as  they 
proceeded  ;  and  the  soft,  warm,  form  of  the  lovely  marchioness 
rested  against  his  own,  as  if  she  felt  the  most  trusting  confi 
dence  in  his  \villiugness  to  protect  her  from  a  contact  with  any 
one  else. 

"  I  heard  of  your  singular  history  while  I  was  in  Paris,"  she  re 
marked. 

'•  Turning  the  heads  of  half  the  Parisian  courtiers,"  he   replied 


Ah  !  my  lord,  I  have  been  unjustly  accused,"  she  observed, 
sadly.  "  Entering  society  for  the  purpose  of  allaying  the  grief  oc 
casioned  by  the  loss  of  an  excellent  husband,  I  could  not  avoid  at 
tention  without  positive  rudeness.  Those  attentions  were  construed 
into  admiration  ;  for  you  know,  Lord  Melville,  how  the  world  is 
given  to  exaggeration." 

Her  voice  was  low  and  musical  ;  her  fragrant  breath  played  upon 
his  cheek,  and  the  bust  of  dazzling  whiteness  was  temptingly  re 
vealed,  as  she  bent  towards  him,  so  that  her  words  could  not  be 
heard  by  others. 

"  Your  ladyship  speaks  truly,"  said  Melville. 

"  Amid  all  my  engagements,"  she  continued,  flatteringly  return 
ing  to  his  early  history,  "  I  was  absorbed  by  the  account  of  your 
hard  fate,  prior  to  the  discovery  of  your  birth." 

"  And  yet  it  was  no  worse  than  what  thousands  of  our  peasantry 
are  constantly  suffering." 

"  Alas  !  your  words  are  too  true.  I  have  always  mourned  over 
tfVe  melancholy  condition  of  the  laboring  classes." 

Her  voice  trembled  as  she  spoke.  Can  this  be  acting,  thought 
Melville. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  breathe  the  fresh  air.  Those  rooms  are  so 
crowded.  How  balmy  is  the  atmosphere.  It  seems  like  spring." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  243 

They  walked  to  the  further  end  of  the  balcony,  and  the  Marchion 
ess  seated  herself  upon  the  steps  leading  to  the  conservatoire.  The 
music  floated  upon  the  night  air  with  soothing  sweetness.  The 
mild  rays  of  the  moon  lit  up  the  fair  complexion  of  the  lady,  as 
half  reclining,  she  assumed  a  posture  calculated  to  make  an  im 
pression  upon  the  young  and  inexperienced — though  of  this  she 
seemed  to  be  unconscious — as  it  was  only  in  their  presence  that  she 
ventured  to  indulge  in  graceful  abandonment. 

"  It  is  a  dangerous  path  you  have  to  tread,  and  one  calculated  to 
test  the  experience  of  a  gentleman  so  young  and  confiding,"  ob 
served  the  Marchioness,  as  her  lustrous  eyes  met  his  own. 

"  Why  so  ?" 

"  Young,  titled,  rich,  and — and — may  I  add — without  transcend 
ing  the  modesty  of  my  sex— gifted  with  a  person  and  an  address 
that  will  make  an  impression  upon  the  female  heart.  Can  you  ask 
me  '  why  so  ?'  " 

Voices  in  low  conversation  fell  upon  the  ear  of  Lord  Melville, 
and  turning  his  glance  upward  to  the  casement  which  overlooked 
the  balcony,  he  met  the  riveted  glance  of  Katharine  Montague. 
When  she  observed  that  his  eyes  were  fixed  upon  her,  she  turned 
away,  and  with  her  companion,  the  Duke  of  Gildermier,  proceeded 
to  the  more  thronged  saloons.  An  hour  later,  Melville  was  saftn- 
tering  through  the  rooms  devoted  to  the  fine  arts.  But  few  occu 
pied  them,  and  he  examined,  at  his  leisure,  the  gems  with  which 
the  walls  of  several  apartments  were  ornamented.  He  had  passed 
through  all  the  rooms  but  one,  and  into  this  he  now  entered.  No 
other  guest  was  there.  His  attention  was  arrested  by  a  painting 
of  the  Madonna.  Never  had  the  lineaments  of  the  mother  of 
Christ  been  more  exquisitely  drawn  upon  canvas.  He  was  ab 
sorbed  by  the  artist's  skill,  when  he  heard  a  sigh.  Turning  his 
head  he  saw  an  alcove  connected  with  the  apartment.  He  could 
not  be  mistaken  ;  it  was  the  figure  of  Katharine  Montague,  seated 
upon  a  sofa,  with  her  eyes  fixed,  but  with  a  vague  look,  upon  a 
painting.  He  folded  his  arms  and  contemplated  the  maiden.  She 
sighed  again,  and  pressed  her  forehead  with  her  ungloved  hand,  and 
then  rising,  encountered  the  glance  of  the  young  nobleman. 

"  Lord  Melville  ?"  she  said,  faintly. 

"  Yes,  Lord  !  Melville,"  he  replied  with  intense  scorn. 

"  Do  you  come  here  to  insult  me?"  she  exclaimed,  raising  her 
form  to  its  full  height. 

"  I  was  ignorant  of  your  presence  in  that  alcove.  I  supposed 
you  were  more  agreeably  occupied  with  his  Grace,  the  Duke  of 
Gildermier." 

Her  eyes  were  fixed  sorrowfully  upon  him.  "  Lord  Melville  ; 
nay,  Christie  Kane,  how  have  you  altered  since  the  hour  you  per 
iled  your  life  to  rescue  me  from  death  !  Why,  oh  why,  have  you 
so  strangely  changed  V  said  the  maiden  passionately,  as  her  grace 
ful  form  inclined  towards  him. 

"  Dear  Katharine — for  dear  you  will  ever  be  to  me  until  this 
heart  ceases  to  beat — from  the  moment  I  first  beheld  you,  I  have 
lived  only  in  your  presence.  God  only  knows  ivhat  I  have  suffered. 
I  dared  to  hope — rash  fool  that  I  was — a  peasant,  upon  whose  brow 


244  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

the  Almighty  had  stamped  his  image— but  still  a  peasant ;  whose 
heart  never  throbbed  but  with  honorable  emotions — but  a  peasant 
still.  I  was  rightly  served.  I  was  rgnominiously  rejected." 

"No!  no!  no!  Christie,  you  cannot,  you  must  not  say  that," 
she  said  eagerly. 

"  If  your  decision  had  been  otherwise,  I  could  have  Corked  for 
you,  suffered  for  you,  died  for  you.  How  bright  was  the  future  !" 
he  continued,  sadly.  "  With  what  a  halo  of  joy  was  every  object 
gilded  by  hope.  How  I  prayed  that  your  love  might  be  won  ;  and 
when  hope  was  utterly  destroyed,  what  nights  of  sleepless  agony  I 
suffered.  You  had  no  right,  dear,  dear  Lady  Katharine,  to  crush 
the  feelings  of  one  whose  love  for  you  bordered  on  idolatry." 

The  maiden  could  not  restrain  her  tears,  as  she  observed"  the  seal 
of  woe  which  was  stamped  upon  every  lineament  of  his  working 
countenance. 

"  I  will  explain  all  to  him,"  she  said  vehemently.  "  Christie, 
dear  Christie,  I  loved  you  then,  and  I  love  you  still.  Can  I  say 
more  V 

"  Why,  then,  did  you  announce  our  separation  forever?"  he  re 
plied  sternly. 

"  A  union  between  us  was  then  impossible.  My  father  would 
have  refused  his  consent — the  prejudices  of  class  would  have  for 
bidden  it.  But  now — " 

"  Now  it  is  too  late  !''  replied  Lord  Melville,  gloomily.  "  You 
refused  the  man  ;  you  may  not  wed  his  title." 

"  But  surely  you  understand  the  decrees  of  society." 
"  I  understand  that  Lord  Melville  is  not  as  worthy  of  your  love 
as  was  Christie  Kane,  and  yet  you  rejected  the  latter,  and  would  ac 
cept  the  former  !  '  What  a  deformed  thief  this  fashion  is  /'  No  ! 
Lady  Katharine  Montague,  the  dream  is  over.  I  have  loved  you 
passionately,  madly.  I  shall  do  so  until  my  pulseless  form  finds 
its  last  resting-place.  There  is  nothing  now  to  hope  for — to  live 
for — and  a  heart-broken  man,  I  shall  only  find  peace  at  the  thresh- 
hold  of  the  tomb.  Farewell,  Lady  Katharine,  we  shall  never  meet 
again  but  as  strangers." 

Lord  Melville  reached  the  door,  and  turned  his  head  to  obtain  one 
last  look  of  the   maiden.     She  stood   in  the  position  she  occupied 
when  he  turned  from  her.     Her  hands  clasped  upon  her  bosom,  her 
eyes  eagerly  watched  his  movements,  and  scalding  tears  coursed 
each  other  down  her  cheeks. 
"  Dear  Katharine  !" 
"  Dear  Christie !" 
And  they  were  locked  in  each  other's  arms. 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  245 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

"  Afar  from  thcc  !  the  morning  breaks, 
But  morning  brings  no  joy  to  mo  ; 
Alas  !  my  spirit  only  wakes 
To  know  I  urn  afar  from  theo." — BETHUNE. 

ROBERT  KANE  felt  like  another  being  as  the  "  Nancy  Ann"  glid 
ed  through  the  channel  fleet,  and  bounded  over  the  blue  waves  of 
the  Atlantic  Ocean.  If  the  vessel  was  not  "  searched"  before  she 
landed  in  New  York  his  escape  was  certain.  How  he  longed  for 
the  moment  to  arrive  when  his  feet  would  prtes  freedom's  soil ! 
and,  beneath  the  stars  and  stripes,  he  could  walk  the  earth  the  slave 
of  oppression  no  more!  If  lie  should  again  fall  under  the  jurisdic 
tion  of  that  power,  from  whose  grasp  he  fondly  hoped  he  had  for 
ever  escaped  ! 

"  I  kinder  guess  yer  glad  tew  see  them  are  pocket  pieces  of  the 
queen  grow  smaller  and  smaller  in  the  distance  V  said  Ezekiel 
Belknap. 

"  You  say  truly,  my  friend  ;  I  never  wish  to  see  them  again  !" 

"  They  wanted  tew  make  yew  serve  a  prentice'ship  at  that  are 
bisness  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  but,  thank  God  !  who  made  you  my  friend,  I  have  es 
caped  them." 

"  Neow,  dew  yeow  know,  the  tarnal  critters  would  jist  as  soon 
pick  yeow  up  for  a  desarter  as  they'd  eat  a  piece  of  roast-beef." 

"  But  I  never  enlisted." 

"  Law  !  what  do  they  keer  about  that?  Diddent  they  enlist  for 
yer?  Why,  the  greedy  skunks  say  that  an  Englishman  once, 
always  an  Englishman  ;  and  that  a  man  with  a  red  head  might  as 
well  expect  it  to  turn  black,  as  for  a  Britisher  to  expatriate  him 
self.  They'll  lie,  tew,  like  Sam  Hyde,  about  it." 

"  But  your  constitution  gives  me  the  privilege  of  acquiring  the 
rights  of  a  citizen  by  naturalization.  I  cannot  serve  two  masters." 

"The  very  question  that's  bound  tew  kick  up  the  alfiredest  rum 
pus  some  of  these  ere  times  ever  yeow  seed.  When  John  Bull 
and  Brother  Jon'than  makes  up  their  minds  tew  claim  the  sarvices 
of  one  critter,  yeow  may  expect  some  profiles  to  be  spiled  on  both 
sides,  for  the'il  hurt  each  other  considerable  ;  but  if  the  old  gentle 
man  thinks  we  will  flummax  when  we've  made  up  our  minds  tew 
dew  the  clean  thing  by  any  of  his  cast-off  folks,  he'll  bark  up  the 
wrong  tree  any  way  you  can  fix  it." 

"  But  your  government  may  not  protect  her  adopted  citizens  T' 

Ezekiel  Belknap  did  not  reply  verbally  for  several  minutes  ;  but 


24C  ENGLISH   SF]RFDOM 

removing  his  tarpaulin  from  his  head,  he  tendered  it  for  Kane's  ac 
ceptance.  Not  content,  however,  with  this  response  to  what  he 
regarded  as  a  monstrous  proposition,  he  said, 

"  I  calkerlate  yeow  don't  intend  that  for  a  sassy  speech,  dew 
yeow  ?" 

u  Of  course  not." 

"  Wall,  I  spose  so  ;  but  it's  enough  to  raise  the  Ebeenezer  of 
them  as  are  not  very  gritty,  any  heow  yeow  can  fix  it .  What ! 
give  up  a  man  arter  we've  presented  on  him  a  pay  tent,  a»makin  on 
him  one  of  nater's  noblemen?  I  calkerlate  yeow  don't  understand 
the  feelins  of  the  rael  Simon  Pure  republican.  Let  Britannia  rile 
our  tempers  a  small  smidgen,  and  see  if  we'll  cave  in  ?" 

"  Would  you  risk  a  war  first?" 

Mr.  Belknap  placed  his  tarpaulin  on  one  side  of  his  head,  changed 
his  tobacco  from  his  left  to  his  right  cheek,  walked  to  the  side  of 
the  "  Nancy  Ann,"  and  squirted  a  quantity  of  juice  into  the  sea  that 
would  have  excited  the  indignation  of  William  Moon,  who  was  so 
devoted  to  the  weed,  and  so  excessively  economical,  that  he  always 
swallowed  the  tobacco,  juice  and  all.  He  then  proceeded  to  roll 
up  his  sleeves,  displaying  thereby  an  arm  of  the  most  formidable 
proportions. 

"  Thar  are  them  among  us,  Mr.  Kane,  who  think  we  shall  spile 
for  the  want  of  a  fight  unless  we  have  it  soon.  Why,  there  was 
skersely  a  day  while  '  Nance'  — the  familiar  name  of  the  ship  — 
was  lying  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  that  we  diddent  see  sich  a 
musterin  of  soldiers  in  the  streets." 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  you  had  a  large  standing  army  in  the 
United  States." 

"  Havent !  They  wer  citizen  soldiers  a  goin  out  to  prac/yse  on 
thar  own  hook  ;  and  I  swan  if  their  targets  diddent  allers  come  in 
perfectly  riddled.  Some  on  em,  tew,  were  byes  skersely  in  their 
teens.  No,  sir,  we  must  have  a  fight  soon,  if  we  can  find  a  reason 
able  excuse,  or  we  shall  spile." 

"  Many  citizen  soldiers  in  New  York  city  ?" 

"  Morner  an  our  whole  standin  army.  Yes,  we're  itching  fur  a 
fight  with  somebody  ;  we  don't  keer  whether  it's  with  England,  or 
Sgain,  or  Mexico.  If  with  the  first,  we  shall  relieve  her  of  all 
further  trouble  about  Canada.  Them  French  Canadians  don't 
hanker  after  the  English  government  any  way  you  can  fix  it.  If 
we  have  to  lick  Spain,  we  shall  annex  Cuba;  and  if  them  Mexi 
cans  rile  us  agin,  we  shan't  leave  them  a  patch  of  airth  large  enough 
for  a  buryin-yard.  We  otter  kept  the  hull  country  when  we  tuk 
it  afore,  by  good  rights." 

"And  so  you  have  universal  suffrage  in  the  United  States?" 

"  I  spose  it  could  hardly  be  called  sich, "replied  the  sailor,  as  he 
deposited  a  formidable  piece  of  tobacco  between  his  teeth. 

"  Dissipate  ?"  he  inquired,  tendering  the  knife  and  plug  to  Robert 
Kane. 

"  No,  I  thank  you." 

"  Not  ben  able" to  indulge  in  such  luxuries.  Them  tarnal  skunks, 
I  spose,  thought  all  the  nice  delicacies  were  intended  for  their  own 
guzzles.  Wall,  I  guess,  it's  a  fine  thing  in  Amerikv,  whar  a  man 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  247 

can  chew  as  much  tobacco  as  he  wants  tew,  and  squirt  the  ambier 
all  abeout  the  sile  of  freedom  !  No,  I  can't  say  as  how  we  have 
univarsal  suffrage  in  America  ;  for,  yon  see,  the  slaves,  bein  no 
betterer  than  cattle,  ain't  allowed  to  vote  ;  and  the  free  niggers  in 
the  Empire  State,  bein  human  only  to  a  partial  extent,  arn't  suf 
fered  to  vote  neither,  unless  they  have  proved  their  humanity  by 
scraping  together  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 
"  Does  that  qualify  them  ?" 

"  It  dooze.  You  see  the  niggers  are  a  raggarnuffin  set.  It's 
doubtful  whether  they  are  intirely  human  beins,  any  way  you  can 
fix  it,  and  they  only  prove  themselves  sich,  by  a  haggling  and  a 
scrapin',  until  they  are  enemost  tuckered  out,  in  getting  them  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 

"  All  the  white  population  are  considered  capable  of  self-govern 
ment,  I  suppose  ?'7 

Mr.  Belknap's  bosom  heaved  with  smothered  indignation  at  the 
question,  but  pity  for  the  ignorance  of  the  other  controlled  his 
feelings. 

"  I  can  pardon  sich  questions  in  a  furrenner,  cause  they  ain't  spo- 
sed  to  understand  our  system,  Mr.  Kane.  But  in  America,  we 
coulddent  overlook  insults  implied  in  such  interrogatories.  Dooze 
any  American  ever  ask  if  Queen  Victoria  abundantly  fulfills  the 
requirements  of  scripture,  to  multiply  and  replenish  the  earth  ? 
You  may  jist  as  well  inquire  if  free-born  white  men  are  capable 
of  self-government.  Ax  them  that  question,  and  see  what  they'll 
say." 

"  It's  a  glorious  system,"  said  Kane,  thoughtfully.     "  And  I  see 
no  reason  why  it  should  not  work  well,  if  the  representative  obeys 
the  will  of  his  constituents.     Tell  me.  Mr.  Belknap,  do  your  public 
officers  never  violate  pledges  given  before  election  ?" 
The  sailor  removed  his  tarpaulin. 

"  Why  you  see,  Mr.  Kane,  there  is  some  skunks,  that  have  the 
meanness  tew  set  up  fur  theirsels  arter  election  is  over.  Their  as 
perlite  as  a  basket  of  chips  while  they  are  asking  the  people  for 
their  votes  ;  but,  once  elected,  and  the  horse  is  another  color. 
Now,  there  is  the  president ;  he  don't  let  on  much  during  the  con 
test,  when  everybody  else  is  a  ripping  and  tearing  the  hull  time  ; 
but  his  silence  is  amazin'  discreet,  for  he  says  jist  nothing,  calker- 
lated  to  spile  the  exertions  of  his  friends  and  his  own  "chances. 
When  he  gits  elected,  he  holds  his  head  jist  as  high  as  ary  king  in 
all  Christendom.  He  takes  the  executive  bit  atween  liis  teeth, 
and  goes  it  rough-shod  straight  over  democrats,  whigs,  abolition 
ists,  secessionists,  and  the  whole  cobboodle,  until  the  people  git 
riled,  and  then  they  jerk  him  back  upon  his  hanches  in  a  little  less 
than  no  time.  They  are  amazin' good-natured,  are  the  Americans, 
when  they  have  their  own  way,  but  once  get  their  dander  up,  by  a 
tryin'tew  dew  as  yer  please,  and  they  will  yank  yer  up,  stand 
ing,  in  a  brace  of  shakes.  Tain't  no  use  tew  try  to  ride  them  folks 
booted  and  spurred,  no  how  you  can  fix  it.  It  ain't  to  be  did. 
J  hey  think  no  more  of  leading  an  unruly  president  out  of  the  white 
house  by  the  ears,  and  a  kickin'  on  him  all  the  way  down  Pennsyl- 
vany  Aveny,  as  far  as  the  De  Pot,  than  they  would  of  pitching  into 


243  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

a  skunk,  that  was  a  ciferin  abeout  a  hen-roost.  There  was  John 
Tyler,  a  good  enough  president— in  fact,  a  fust-rate  man — for  he 
did  enebeout  right  in  a  vetoeing  them  bank  bills  ;  for  I  guess  they 
desarved  no  better  than  to  toe  the  mark,  and  the  people  woulddent  a 
cared  if  he  had  kicked  them  as  try'd  so  pesky  hard  to  force  'em 
through.  But  because  they  thought  they  had  a  right  tew  call,  him 
a  whig,  they  sposed  he  was  bound  to  approbate  the  hull  set  of  whig- 
measures  ;  that  is,  them  as  was  whig  measures,  then.  And  when 
Captain  Tyler  wan't  to  be  druv,  and  was  bound  to  set  up  fur  his- 
self,  they  commenced  abusin'  on  him,  and  a  cussen  on  him,  until 
arter  awhile  no  one  thought  it  was  respectable  to  speak  well  of 
Captain  Tyler." 

"  But  that  was  a  case  where  principle  was  involved,  Mr.  Bel- 
knap,"  said  Kane. 

"Not  a  smidgen;  dew  you  spose  they  would  pass  one  of 
the  measures  they  abused  Captain  Tyler  for  verging  ten  years 
ago  ?" 

"  I  presume  so." 

"  Not  a  darned  one  on  'em.  You  see  they  argufied  the  passage 
of  them  measures  to  save  the  country  from  ruin  ;  but  the  country 
escaped  ruin  without  them,  so  now  they  ain't  any  use,  no  how  you 
can  fix  it." 

"But  the  President  must  have  a  great,  many  difficulties  to 
encounter." 

"  lie  dooze.  A  pesky  sight  on  'em.  His  temper  is  continually 
riled  by  them  office-seekers,  who,  with  great  patriotism,  insist  that 
their  services  are  indispensable;  that  the  wheels  of  government  are 
bound  to  grow  rusty  unless  they  grease  them.  Why  the  skunks 
are  the  most  brazen-faced  critters  in  the  unevarse.  Tough,  tew. 
And  unfeelin'.  They  killed  two  presidents.  Thems  as  the  British, 
Injins,  and  Mexicans  coulddent  hold  a  candle  tew,  the  office-seekers 
cut  right  down,  like  grass  afore  the  scythe  of  the  young  man  whose 
untimely  fate  is  recorded  as  having  transpyred  on  Springfield  moun 
tain,  when  the  pysen  sarpent  bit  him  on  the  heel.  The  truth  is, 
Mr.  Kane,  the  profession  of  office-seeking  is  eneabeout  the  most 
skulduddery  bisuess  on  airth  ;  not  half  so  respectable  as 
"  '  A  life  on  the  ocean  wave.' " 

"Have  you  followed  the  sea  from  boyhood?"  asked  Robert 
Kane. 

"  Only  a  dozen  years.  Afore  that,  I  made  a  small  experiment 
at  in-door  service,  in  the  city  of  Bosting.  But  it  diddent  suit  my 
turn  of  mind,  any  how  you  could  fix.  They  axed  me  tew  dew 
ever  so  many  nasty  things,  which  turned  my  free-born  stomach. 
I  went  to  service  ;  so  1  thought  I  would  tucker  it  eout.  But  I 
coulddent  dew  it,  no  how  you  could  fix  it.  The  hull  thing  went 
right  straight  agin  my  notions  of  equal  rights  and  no  monopoly. 
The  hull  co/nsarn  was  a  monopoly  from  A  to  izzard.  The  best 
things  went  up  s;airs,  and  skersely  the  least  mussel  came  down 
except  the  bones.  They  done  nothing,  and  we  did  everything,  from 
rocking  the  cradle  to  blacking  boots.  One  day  the  cook  said  we 
wer  tew  haive  abeout  the. finest  turkey  as  ever  gobbled.  The  news 
made  a  mistrification  ;  what  could  a  got  into  'em  up  stairs  ?  The 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  249 

turkey  was  put  down  tew  roast,  until  it  was  done — was  that  turkey. 
But  we  diskivered  he  was  done  afore  !  The  fact  was  that  gobbler 
had  deceased  so  many  days  anterior  tew  the  period  when  he  was 
tew  haive  the  honor  of  beiti'  gobbled  by  us,  that  a  skunk  was  a 
nosegay  compared  tew  his  dead  body.  All  our  danders  was  riz, 
and  we  were  enemost  up  to  the  bili'n  heat,  when  the  chambermaid, 
an  impertinent  hussey,  (in  love  out  of  the  house,  tew.)  came  down, 
and  told  me  to  black  my  master's  boots.  That  was  the  cap-sheaf. 
'  Yeou  swingecat,'  said  I,  '  I'll  haiv  yeou  to  understand  that  I'm  a 
free-born  native  American  citizen,  and  the  servant  of  no  man, 
except  as  a  matter  of  courtesy  at  the  end  of  a  letter.  And  I'll 
have  yeou  tew  understand,  tew,  that  it  was  a  darned  mean  trick  tew 
send  a  dead  gobbler  here,  who's  been  defunct,  I'll  bet  my  gizzard 
on't,  not  a  minit  less  than  five  days — and  the  weather  warmish,  at 
that !" 

"  *  You  had  better  shut  up,  Mr.  Belknap,'  said  she,  '  for  I  heard 
master  say  you  was  the  most  impertinent  servant  he  had.' 

"  Servant!  I  exclaimed.  A  free  born  native  American  citizen, 
a  servant !  Take  them  ar  boots  back  tew  your  master,  and  tell  him 
I  guess  they'll  spile  afore  Ezekiel  Belknap  blacks  em.  Master 
indeed  !  Servant,  indeed  ?  I  jist  walked  off,  and  I've  never  bin  ii 
sarvice  since." 

For  a  week  the  Nancy  Ann  encountered  strong  head  winds.  In 
stead  of  abating,  the  storm  increased  in  violence.  Robert  Kane 
saw,  from  the  anxious  face  of  the  captain,  and  the  serious  bearing 
of  the  crew,  that  danger  was  apprehended.  He  was  told  the  ship 
had  sprung  a  leak,  that  she  must  soon  go  down.  They  had  but  one 
serviceable  boat,  and  that  could  not  live  in  such  a  sea.  The  hold 
began  to  fill  with  water  ;  all  hands  were  called  to  the  pumps  ;  it 
gained  upon  them  slowly  in  spite  of  their  exertions.  The  storm 
abated,  but  it  was  impossible  to  close  the  aperture  in  the  keel  of 
the  ship.  Kane  pressed  his  children  to  his  heart.  Death  stared 
them  in  the  face.  Hope  was  in  the  act  of  expiring  when  a  joyful 
shout  was  heard  at  the  masthead  of  the  Nancy  Ann.  A  ship  had 
been  signaled.  She  was  bearing  down  towards  them.  She  was 
an  English  merchantman.  Even  that  was  better  than  sudden 
death.  A  few  hours  of  terrible  suspense,  and  the  passengers  and 
crew  were  taken  on  board  the  "  English  Queen,"  bound  from  Liv 
erpool  to  Quebec.  In  an  hour  the  "  Nancy  Ann"  careened  upon 
one  side  and  went  down. 

There  was  a  company  of  British  Grenadiers  on  board  the  "  Eng 
lish  Queen."  Kane  was  once  more  within  the  grasp  of  his  direst 
foes.  He  involuntarily  trembled  as  each  one  of  them  passed  him. 
It  was  horrible  to  stand  in  such  dread  of  human  beings,  but  he  could 
not  help  it.  What  was  this  power  of  England,  that  it  hemmed  him 
in  on  every  side,  and  from  whose  grasp  it  appeared  almost  impos 
sible  to  escape  ?  He  could  hardly  repress  his  feelings,  so  irritating 
were  the  bondman's  chains  that  encompassed  his  limbs. 

The  co-nmander  of  the  grenadiers  frequently  examined  the  manly 
figure  of  Robert  Kane  with  a  professional  -eye.  But  he  had  no  au 
thority  to  steal  him,  and  he  was  not  aware  that  he  had  been  in  the 
clutches  of  the  press-gang. 

12 


f  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

Favorable  winds  now  wafted  them  rapidly  towards  Quebec, 
Hope  again  revived  in  the  heart  of  the  fugitive.  If  he  could  suc 
ceed  in  reaching  the  open  country  heyond  Montreal,  he  might  pass 
unobserved  among  the  crowd  of  emigrants,  to  the  United  States. 
Ezekiel  Belknnp  promised  to  accompany  him  through  Canada,  and 
to  do  all  he  could  to  assist  him.  Between  the  two  men  a  strong 
affection  had  been  awakened — in  the  heart  of  Kane  by  a  sense  of 
deep  obligations  to  the  sailor  ;  and  in  that  of  the  latter  by  a  con 
sciousness  of  having  conferred  them.  Little  Dolly,  too,  loved  the 
sailor,  and  often  sat  upon  his  knee,  watching  his  countenance,  and 
listening  to  his  yarns. 

"  It's  amazin  strange,  when  these  lords  and  ladies  of  your'n  so 
pertiklerly  interests  theirsels  abeout  the  southern  niggers,  that  they 
don't  shed  a  tear  neow  and  then  at  the  misfortins  of  their  own  poor 
folks." 

"  1  have  often  thought  of  that,  Mr.  Belknap.  Perhaps  they 
want  to  draw  attention  from  our  condition  by  riveting  it  upon  the 
slaves." 

"  I  spose  so.  Not  a  bad  idee  nutlier,  for  it's  fust  rate  tew  make 
people  talk  abeout  our  neighbors  instead  of  oursels,  I  heered  them 
say  in  Lundon  that  they  are  a  goin  to  send  over  a  special  agint  tew 
excite  the  abolitionists.  It  won'i  dew  no  good  no  heovv  yeou  can 
fix  it.  They  made  Mr.  Thompson,  M.  P.  exercise  shankes'  mare 
in  Bosting  a  few  years  since,  and  that  city  ain't  overly  fond  of  sla 
very  imther.  Why  can't  them  pesky  critters  mind  their  own  biz- 
ness.  We  don't  stick  our  fingers  in  their  roast  beef.  I'll  be 
darned  tew  darnation  if  they  hadn't  better  let  us  aloneT  or  we'll 
pitch  intew  Ireland  with  a  few  thousand  short  boys." 

"  Short  boys  1  what  are  they  T1 

"A  set  of  scamps,  who  don't  know  when  they're  whipped.  It 
will  be  a  doin  the  community  a  sarvace  to  git  them  killed  off.  We 
are  a  spilin  for  an  opportunity  to  make  use  on  emr  and  if  Great 
Britain  don't  keep  her  eyes  skinned,  we'll  giv  her  such  a  lambastin 
as  she  never  had.  The  hypocritical  old  sinner  !  She  opposes  ev 
erything — but  her  own  interests.  She's  a  preaching  all  the  hull 
time  agin  slavery,  when  her  own  subjects  are  any  number  of  times- 
WHISS  off  than  our  niggers.  She  kicks  up  a  rumpus  every  time  we 
take  a  slice  of  territory  from  our  neighbors,  jist  tew  straighten  out 
our  legs  on,  while  she  is  a  rollin  over  and  a  turnin  over  herself,  un 
til  she^s  got  the  better  part  of  Ashee,  Don't  she  boast  that  the  sun 
never  sets  upon  her  possessions  ?  and  that  the  tap  of  her  drums 
follows  the  light  of  day  as  the  sun  crosses  each  degree  of  longi 
tude  1  Arter  a  while  she'll  exhaust  our  patience,  and  then  look  out 
for  squalls." 

The  "  English  Queen,"  beat  up  the  St,  Lawrencey  and  at  length 
anchored  beneath  the  frowning  walls  of  Quebec.  There  the  crew 
of  the  "  Nancy  Ann"  separated,  and  Kane,  after  expressing  his- 
gratitude  to  Captain  Smith,  started  with  his  children  and  Ezekiel 
Belknap  for  Montreal,  thankful  for  his  safe  exit  from  the  "Gibral 
tar  of  America."  Crossing  the  St.  Lawrence  at  Montreal,  they 
commenced  their  journey  on  foot  for  the  Canada  Hue,  bearing  the 
children  in  sacks  upon  their  shoulders.  Here  again  they  were 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  251 

doomed  to  disappointment  and  delay.  Frank  Tot  took  a  violent 
cold  :  and  they  were  forced  to  remain  for  several  weeks  in  the 
French  country,  until  his  recovery.  The  sailor  would  not  desert 
his  friends,  and  after  a  long  delay,  they  again  started  together  for 
the  United  States.  Robert  Kane's  hopes  beat  high  as  each  league 
of  Canadian  .territory  was  traversed.  The  sailor  enlivened  Ihe 
way  with  anecdotes  of  laud  and  sea. 

"  Yer  can't  tell  heow  tender  the  home  government  is  of  her  Can 
ada  subjects.  They  touch  them  as  gently  as  if  tney  were  wax 
figures.  The  French  tulc  it  inter  their  heads  a  few  years  ago,  to 
set  up  fur  themselves.  But  the  English  population  "stuck  to  the 
hum  government,  and  the  rebellion  was  crushed  Arterwards,  the 
hum  government  thought  they'd  conciliate  the  French,  and  so  they 
refunded  the  money  lost  by  the  rebels  in  a  quarrel  they  had  pro 
voked  themselves.  The  English  and  American  tories  were  awfully 
riled,  and  they  fell  tew  cussin  and  a  swearin,  and  neow  they  would 
jump  at  the  chance  of  annexation.  So  would  the  French  tew,  for 
that  matter,  and  the  Queen  knows  it,  and  hence  her  gracious  and 
affable  treatment  of  them.  You  see  the  example  of  Brother  Jon 
athan  is  sposed  to  have  a  wonderful  effect  on  them  Canadians. 
But  I  calkerlate  if—" 

"  My  God  !  we  are  lost,"  exclaimed  Kane, 

"  What  on  airth  is  the  matter  ?" 

'My  evil  genius,"  replied  Kane,  pointing  at  the  slight  figure 
and  fiendish  countenance  of  Riley. 

"Fool,  to  think  you  could  escape  me!"  exclaimed  the  mis 
creant,  shaking  his  clenched  hand  at  Kane.  Placing  Frank  Tot 
in  the  arms  of  the  sailor,  Robert  sprang  towards  Riley.  Leaping 
over  the  fence,  the  latter  disappeared  in  the  grove  of  dark  timber 
which  fringed  the  road.  In  a  few  minutes  Kane  returned  from  the 
pursuit  pale  and  agitated. 

"  Wall,  may  I  flummux  tetotally  in  the  face  of  an  inemy,  if  I  un 
derstand  what  this  all  means,"  said  Ezekiel  Belknap. 

"  I  will  tell  you.  That  villain  is  my  irreconcilable  enemy.  He 
was  impressed  at  the  same  time  I  was,  and  has  made  his  escape  or 
been  placed  upon  my  track.  In  either  ease  he  will  compass  hea 
ven  and  earth  to  ensure  my  capture." 

"  Whew  !  Wall,  we  musent  let  the  grass  grow  under  our  feet 
now,  any  way  you  can  fix  it.  There  is  a  custom-house  officer  and 
a  sheriff  in  the  next  village  who  would  jist  as  soon  lay  their  paws 
on  yeow,  as  if  yeow  were  smuggled  goods,  or  personal  property 
not  exempt  from  execution  sale.  We  mast  tek  tew  the  woods. 
Here,  follow  me  on  this  are  hard-pan  for  awhile,"  saying  which, 
the  sailor  stepped  upon  that  portion  of  the  road  where  the  clay  had 
been  trodden  to  almost  the  consistency  of  a  rock.  They  proceeded 
in  this  way  until  they  came  to  a  bend  in  the  road. 

''  Neow  let  us  divarge  upon  them  are  rocks.  Tuther  side  of 
them  woods  is  another  road  leading  to  the  Varmount  line.  Unless 
he  gets  the  sheriff  to  raise  a  posse  come-it-at-us,  as  the  lawyers 
say,  it'll  be  hard  if  we  can't  escape.  I  wouldn't  be  at  all  surprised 
if  he  should  dew  it,  for  the  darned  skunk  teks  purticular  pleasure 
in  a  showin  his  zeal  for  the  queen  since  his  appointment." 


252  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

As  the  sun  approached  the  western  horizon,  they  arrived  upon 
the  bank  of  a  river,  the  outlet  of  Lake  Memphremagog. 
"  Here  we  will  camp  for  the  night,"  said  the  sailor. 
"Where,  Mr.  Belknap,  I  don't  see  any  house,"  said  Dolly. 
"  I  spose  you  will  jist  exactly  think  arter  a  while,  my  little  dar 
ling,  that  I'll  fix  yeou  eneaheout  the  nicest  place  tew  sleep  in  ever 
yeou  seed." 

"  In  the  dark  woods  ?  Won't  the  bears  come  and  eat  up  you, 
and  me,  and  pa,  and  Frank  Tot  ?" 

"  I  rayther  guess  not.  Ketch  them  aputting  their  noses  again 
them  pistils  and  this  are  knife." 

Saying  which,  Ezekiel  Belknap  took  a  formidable  brace  of  pis 
tols  and  a  long,  dangerous-looking  knife,  from  his  bosom. 

The  sailor  verified  his  word.  He  drove  two  poles  into  the  earth, 
and  placing  a  cross  piece  in  the  forks,  and  two  more  extending 
slantingly  from  that  to  the  ground,  proceeded  to  attach  poles  to  the 
rafters  thus  constituted.  These  he  covered  with  spruce,  hemlock, 
and  cedar  boughs  to  a  sufficient  depth  to  shed  rain.  Then  making 
a  thick  bed  out  of  hemlock  bows,  he  declared  the  tent  fit  for  a 
princess. 

"  It's  a  fortunit  circumstance  that  I  laid  in  plenty  of  provender 
this  morning,  as  we  should  have  found  it  cold  comfort  bein  here 
without  a  mossel  to  eat.  Bread,  cheese,  butter,  salt,  cold  ham — I 
guess  it  will  dew.1' 

"  Never  fear  but  we  shall  find  it  a  feast.  Many  is  the  time  I 
have  had  food  not  half  so  good  to  eat." 

'  But  this  is  not  all.  We'll  help  ourselves  to  some  of  her  Majes 
ty's  fish." 

" 1  don't  see  any,"  said  Dolly. 
"  Jist  come  down  to  the  bank  and  I'll  show  yeou." 
The  air  was  balmy  for  it  was  now  the  month  of  June.  The  light 
of  day  softly  faded  away,  leaving  an  unclouded  sky.     A  gentle 
breeze  agitated  the  foliage  and  sighed  through  the  leaves  of  a  tall 
pine  which  erected  its  towering  form  upon  the  bank  of  the  stream. 
The  air  was  laden  with  forest  odors,  the  sweetest  of  all  perfumes. 
Here  and  there  a  twinkling  star,  no  longer  rivalled  by  the  sun,  sent 
its  rays  of  light  into  the  forest,  where  they  peeped  through  the 
trees  or  danced  in  the  stream. 

Arranging  his  hook  and  line  and  attaching  them  to  along  pole 
which  he  cut  from  a  thicket  of  larches,  the  sailor  walked  out  upon 
a  moss-covered  log  that  spanned  the  river.  It  was  at  the  foot  of  the 
rapids,  and  the  water  there  formed  an  eddy.  Into  that  he  cast  his 
line.  The  hook  had  scarcely  descended  a  foot  beneath  the  surface 
of  the  stream  when  the  line  was  straightened.  The  rod  bent  in  the 
hand  of  the  sailor  as  he  raised  it,  the  water  was  agitated  for  a  few 
moments,  and  then  a  large  trout  dangled  in  the  air.  They  returned 
to  the  camp  in  half  an  hour  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  fish.  ^A  fire 
was  kindled  in  front  of  the  camp,  and  upon  the  coals  Ezekiel 
Belknap  broiled  his  trout. 

Dolly  watched  the  sparks  as  they  soared  upward,  and  tried  how 
many  she  could  count  before  they  went  out.  Some  were  lost 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  258 

among  the  tree  tops,  and  she  wondered  if  they  helped  to  make  up 
the  "  starry  host"  that  now  gathered  in  the  sky. 

Frank  Tot  sat  upon  his  father's  knee  with  his  round  black  eyes 
fixed  upon  the  sailor  as  he  hroiled  the  fish.  After  he  had  eaten  his 
supper  he  looked  at  the  light  and  at  the  darkness  as  he  nestled  in 
Robert  Kane's  hosom,  and  wondered  himself  to  sleep. 

They  all  laid  their  weary  limbs  upon  the  grateful  bed  at  an  early 
hour.  After  breakfast  the  next  morning  they  started  on  their 
journey  again,  and  soon  emerged  from  the  intricacies  of  the  forest 
into  the  road. 

"  Yonder  is  the  outlet  of  Magog  Lake.  And  see,  the  Mountain 
Maid  is  about  starting.  If  we  can  get  on  that  are  craft  we  shall 
be  in  Varmount  in  less  than  two  hours." 

"  Heaven  grant  that  we  may,"  said  Robert  Kane,  as  his  glance 
ranged  along  the  shore  of  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water. 

"  I'll  be  darned  tew  darnation  if  that  are  pesky  critter  ain't  after 
us  with  a  sharp  stick." 

"  Where  7"  inquired  Kane,  anxiousty. 

"  In  tother  road.  Don't  you  see  him  and  the  sheriff  with  a  pos- 
sey  7" 

"All  is  lost;  I  knew  I  should  never  reach  a  land  of  liberty. 
Accursed  government,  how  am  I  followed  by  your  vengeance,  and 
for  what  7" 

"  Never  give  it  up  so.  Time  enough  to  cave  in  when  the  sheriff 
has  hold  of  you." 

"  Well,  then,  what  is  to  be  done  7 — return  upon  our  footsteps  7" 

"  Never.  Ezekiel  Beiknap  don't  craw  fish  arter  that  sort,  no 
way  you  can  fix  it.  I  calkerlate  we  can  reach  that  are  boat  afore 
the  '  posse-come-it-at-usS  " 

"  They  are  mounted  while  we  are  on  foot." 

"  But  they've  got  twice  as  far  tew  go  as  us.     So  come  on." 

They  ran  with  all  speed  towards  the  dock  where  the  Mountain 
Maid  was  trembling  with  the  respiration  of  her  steam.  Their  flight 
was  witnessed  by  Riley  and  his  party,  who  urged  their  horses  to 
their  utmost  speed.  The  fugitives  were  in  the  centre  of  the  little 
village  which  surrounds  the  outlet;  the  sheriff  and  his  band  were 
upon  its  borders.  The  steam-boat  was  in  the  act  of  leaving  the 
wharf.  At  this  critical  moment  Kane  stumbled  and  fell.  In  the 
effort  to  save  Frank  Tot  from  injury,  he  wrenched  his  arm  vio 
lently.  The  sailor  did  not  pause  in  his  flight,  but  leaping  upon  the 
boat,  he  addressed  a  few  earnest  words  to  the  captain,  and,  leaving 
Dolly  in  his  charge,  bounded  upon  the  shore  again.  The  escape 
of  Kane  now  seemed  hopeless.  He  ran  since  his  fall  with  far  less 
speed  than  before,  while  the  horsemen  were  dashing  rapidly  through 
the  village.  The  sailor  was  by  his  side. 

"  Give  me  the  boy.  Neow,  if  you  place  any  valley  upon  liberty, 
buckle  to  it !" 

The  savage  laugh  of  Riley  was  heard.  It  gave  Kane  fresh 
strength.  He  bounded  forward  ;  and  as  the  steam-boat  was  leav 
ing  the  dock,  both  Kane  and  the  sailor  leaped  on  board. 

"  Stop  the  boat!  stop  the  boat !"  shoute'd  the  sheriff.  "  I  com 
mand  you  in  the  queen's  nama."  The  cry  was  echoed  by  Riley ; 


254  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

but  the  Mountain  Maid  moved  rapidly  from  the  shore.      They  were 
free  ! 

It  was  a  lovely  morning ;  not  a  cloud  could  be  seen  along  the 
vast  expanse  of  azure  ;  not  a  breath  of  air  ruffled  the  glossy  bosom 
of  the  beautiful  lake  ;  for  a  beautiful  lake  it  is,  the  enchant 
ing  Memphrernagog !  Poets  have  written  of  Loch  Lomond  and  of 
Como,  but  no  lovelier  expanse  of  water  can  be  seen  on  the  surface 
of  this  earth  than  the  romantic  and  beautiful  Memphremagog. 

The  Mountain  Maid  stopped  a  few  moments  at  the  base  of  the 
"  Owl's  Head,"  whose  frowning  summit  is  now  often  visited  by  the 
tourist.  As  the  boat  was  passing  an  island  in  the  middle  of  the 
lake,  Ezekiel  Belknap  said, 

"  Neow,  Mr.  Kane,  dew  yeow  see  any  particular  difference  be 
tween  the  tew  ends  of  that  are  island  ?" 

"  No  ;  except  some  few  inequalities." 

"  One  looks  as  fair  as  t'other,  don't  it?" 

"  Precisely." 

"  Wall,  one  end  is  in  her  majesty's  province,  and  t'other  is  io 
the  state  .of  Vermont." 

Kane  was  speechless. 

"  Yes,  yeow  are  in  Canada  neow.  Neow,  yeow  are  in  Ver 
mont.  Your  hand  ;  welcome — welcome  tew  the 

4  Land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave.'  " 

Robert  Kane  fell  upon  his  knees,  and,  with  uplifted  eyes,  returned 
thanks  to  Heaven  for  his  escape. 

The  farms  upon  the  shore  of  the  lake  presented  a  lovelier  appear 
ance  ;  the  rays  of  the  sun  shone  more  brightly  :  and  the  mountain 
summits  were  shaded  with  a  softer  and  more  dream-like  atmosphere 
than  he  had  ever  seen  before. 

As  the  boat  landed  at  the  dock  in  Newport,  he  sprang  upon 
the  shore,  and  pressed  his  lips  upon  the  soil  of  freedom. 

"  Thank  Heaven,  we  are  at  last  free  !  One  half  my  dear  family 
have  been  murdered  by  the  bloody  laws  and  government  of  Eng 
land,  yet  I  am  thankful  that  two  dear  children  are  spared  to  me. 
Happy  country  !  henceforth  you  shall  be  my  home  ;  and,  protected 
by  your  constitution,  I  will  try  and  win  that  peace  which  was 
denied  me  in  my  own  land.'' 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.^  255 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

"  Flag  of  the  free  heart's  hope  and  home ! 

By  angel  hands  to  valor  Driven  : 
The  stars  have  lit  the  welkin  dome, 

And  all  thy  hues  were  born  in  heaven. 
Forever  float  that  standard  sheet ! 

Where  breathes  the  foe  but  tails  before  us, 
With  Freedom's  soil  beneath  our  feet, 
And  Freedom's  banner  streaming  o'er  us." 

DRAKE. 

Six  years  have  elapsed  since  the  events  occurred  which  were 
narrated  in  the  last  chapter.  In  a  comfortable  dwelling,  situated 
on  the  border  of  a  prairie,  sheltered  by  a  grove,  and  overlooking 
Michigan,  the  most  lovely  of  the  western  lakes,  sat  two  children, 
one  ten  and  the  other  seven  years  of  age.  The  oldest  had  appa 
rently  been  reading  the  Bible,  for  it  still  lay  open  on  her  lap.  An 
expression  of  happiness  was  visible  upon  her  features,  while  the 
boy  looked  thoughtful  and  troubled. 

"  I  have  read  these  commandments  so  often  to  you  Frank,  that 
you  ought  to  know  them  by  heart." 

"  I  do,"  he  replied,  shortly. 

"  Then  why,  my  dear  brother,  don't  you  obey  them  ?" 

"  Cause  other  boys  swear,  and  fight,  and  steal  birds'  eggs,  and 
why  shoulddent  I  ?" 

"  Because  it  is  wicked,  Frank ;  and  you  have  no  right  to  act 
wickedly  if  all  the  boys  in  the  United  States  should.  Now,  Frank, 
do  you  think  father  loves  you  V 

"  Oh  yes,  that  I  do." 

"  Is  he  kind  to  you  ?" 

"That  he  is." 

"  Would  you  do  anything  to  offend  him  ?" 

"Not  if. I  was  to  die  first." 

"  Well,  your  heavenly  father  created  you,  he  watches  over  you, 
loves  you  better,  even,  than  your  earthly  father  does,  for  he  sent 
his  own  son,  whom  he  loved  better  than  you  do  me  and  father  both, 
to  die  that  you  might  be  saved.  Now,  Frank,  when  he  has  done 
so  much  for  you,  and  is  yet  watching  over  you,  and  keeping  you 
from  sickness  and  danger,  do  you  think  it  is  generous  to  offend  and 
grieve  him  ?" 

"  No,  I'll  be  damned— Oh  !  Dolly,  I  didn't  mean  to  say  that." 

"  Frank,  I  am  afraid  you  are  a  very  thoughtless,  wicked  boy," 
•aid  Dolly,  as  a  tear  stole  down  her  cheek. 

"  Dolly,  dear  Dolly,  don't  say  that.     I'm  thoughtless,  but  I  ain't 


850  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

wicked,  for  I  love  everybody — except — except  Jim  Lee,  who  licked 
me  last  week.  I  can't  love  bin  until  I  lick  him  back,  and  then  I 
will." 

"  But  you  don't  love  everything,  Frank,  for  you  rob  birds'  nests." 

"  Do  you  think  that  is  wrong,  Dolly  ?" 

'*  Certainly  it  is  ;  and  it  is  very  sinful  to  throw  stones  at  frogs,  as 
you  were  doing  last  spring.  You  have  no  right  to  make  dumb 
things  suffer  unnecessarily.  They  were  created  by  God,  as  well 
as  ourselves,  and  are  entitled  to  protection  against  cruelty.  It  is 
just  as  sinful,  Frank,  to  torture  a  dumb  beast,  as  it  is  a  human  be 
ing,  and  I  think,  more  so,  because  the  flesh  of  both  can  feel  pain, 
while  one  can  proclaim  its  wrongs,  aud  the  other  cannot." 

"  I  won't  hurt  dumb  animals  any  more,  Dolly,  indeed  I  won't ; 
only  if  you'll  just  let  me  give  Jim  Lee  one  good  licking,  to  pay  off 
old  scores." 

"  No,  Frank,  it  is  very  sinful  to  fight  and  quarrel  ;  your  heavenly 
Father  will  be  offended  with  you,  if  you  do  so." 

"  But  you  read  in  the  bible  the  other  day  where  he  commanded 
the  Israelites,  I  believe  it  was,  to  make  war  upon  their  neighbors, 
and  kill  and  capture  them,  and  burn  their  cities." 

"  That  was  in  the  old  testament,  Frank." 

"  But  izzent  he  an  unchangeable  God  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  would  he  tell  the  Israelites,  to  do  anything  sinful  in  the 
old  testament." 

Dolly  was  puzzled  a  moment,  and  then  she  said — 

44 1  suppose  he  told  them  to  punish  his  enemies  because  they  were 
so  wicked." 

44  They  couldn't  a  been  wickeder  than  Jim  Lee,  and  I  reckon  God 
would  like  it  if  I  should  rout  him  and  put  him  to  the  sword,  just 
like  the  Israelites  did." 

"  Frank  !  Frank!  how  unhappy  you  make  me,"  said  Dolly,  weep 
ing  bitterly.  "  1  have  done  all  I  could  to  make  you  a  good  boy. 
I've  prayed  twenty  times  a  day  to  God  to  give  me  knowledge  ;  for, 
Frank,  you  have  got  no  mother  to  watch  over  you.  I  feel  such  a 
weight  here,  when  I  think  of  my  responsibility,  for  that  was  what 
the  minister  called  it,"  and  the  little  girl  pressed  her  hand  upon  her 
heart.  "  I  fear  I  am  but  a  poor  weak  child  myself,  for  I  can't  make 
any  impression  on  him.  Would  that  poor  dear  mother  had  lived," 
and  she  wept  more  bitterly. 

"  Don't  cry,  pray  don't  cry,  dear  Dolly.  I  can't  bear  to  see  you. 
I  will  do  any  thing  for  you,  if  you  will  only  just  not  cry.  There, 
that  is  a  good  girl.  Now  I  am  happy,  for  I  won't  vex  you  any 
more.  Now,  Dolly,  tell  me  more  about  my  mother." 

44  Frank,  she  was  the  kindest  and  most  affectionate  mother  ever 
was  ;  and  she  was  so  fond  of  you  !  She  petted  you  morning,  noon, 
and  night.  And  poor  dear  Henry  !  She  loved  him  so  vrell,  too  : 
and  me,  too.  We  were  all  her  favorites." 

"  You  never  told  me  what  made  her  die,  Dolly." 

"  Because  I  can  never  bear  to  think  of  it,"  said  the  child,  wiping 
her  eyes  with  her  apron. 

"  But  do  tell  me  now,  Dally  !     I  nhould  so  like  to  know." 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  [257 

I    With  a  powerful  effort,  and  with  a  voice  broken  with  sobs,  Dolly 
said  : 

"  We  were  all  turned  into  the  street  one  cold  night,  and  mother 
froze  to  death." 

For  some  moments  Frank  tried  to  think  whether  he  understood 
her. 

"  Froze  to  death  !     Did  you  say  froze  to  death,  Dolly  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Was  she  so  cold  that  her  hands,  and  feet,  and  arms,  and  face, 
were  hard — hard  as  ice  ?  Don't  say  that  for  pity  sake  !"  he  said, 
imploringly. 

"  Yes,  Frank,  it  is  true,"  said  the  weeping  girl. 

"Who  turned  her  into  the  street1?"  he  inquired,  as  he  doubled 
up  his  hand. 

"  The  landlord." 
[.  u  And  did  the  government  let  him  do  so  V' 

"  Yes,  and  a  great  many  worse  things  than  that." 

"  Where  was  my  father,  then  T' 

"  He  had  been  knocked  down,  and  taken  on  board  a  ship,  to 
fight  for  the  government  that  suffered  his  wife  to  die  in  the 
street !" 

Frank  paused  a  few  moments,  and  then  he  said,  as  if  his  mind 
was  unalterably  made  up — 

"  Dolly,  I  hate  the  government  of  England  worse  than  I  do  Jim 
Lee,  and  if  I  can  get  an  opportunity,  I  will  fight  the  British  to  the 
last  moment  of  my  life — that  I  will." 

"  It  is  thus  that  England  makes  irreconcilable  foes,"  said  Robert 
Kane,  pointing  to  the  form  of  his  son. 

"And  it  is  thus  that  Ameriky  knows  how  tew  reward  good  citi 
zens,"  replied  Ezekiel  Belknap. 

"  How  so,  my  worthy  friend V' 

"  You've  been  elected  a  member  of  the  legislature,  by  a  large 
majority.  I  calkerlate  that  would  go  agin  the  grain  of  them  bug 
gers  who  thought  you  wa'nt  good  enough  to  black  their  boots,  in  the 
old  country." 

"  I  am  grateful  to  my  fellow  citizens  for  their  partiality,  and  I 
hope  my  acts  will  not  disappoint  them." 

"  It  would  be  difficult  to  dew  so,  for  your  principles  were  well 
known  afore  the  election.  My  stars  and  garters  !  What  a  change 
has  come  over  yeou  since  I  fust  kneouvved  yeou,  Robert  Kane. 
Then  yeou  were  a  poor  fugitive,  a  tryin'  to  escape  from  persecution  ; 
now,  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm,  a  comfortable  house,  and  a  member 
elect  tew  the  legislature.  Darn  it,  heouw  much  better  off  you  are 
than  me." 

"  But  what  I  have  you  shall  always  enjoy,  Ezekiel.  I  am  too 
much  indebted  to  you  ever  to  be  ungrateful.  You  have  now  been 
here  a  year,  and  you  are  happy,  ain't  you '?" 

"  Very.  Ony  sometimes  I  long  for  the  sea  agin.  I  should  spile 
altogether  if  it  wan't  for  this  lake,  which  kinder  satisfies  the  "  cra- 
vins  of  the  spirit,"  as  Parson  Remsen  says.  And  when  I  see  you 
so  well  tew  dew  in  the  world,  I'm  content  tew  stay  here  awhile 
lonffer." 


2C8  ENGLISH  SERFDOM 

"  I  hope  you  may  never  leave  me.  I  have  enough  for  all  of  us, 
and  I  don't  know  what  Frank  would  do,  if  he  did  not  have  you  to 
learn  him  how  to  sail  his  little  ship." 

"  You  mussent  leave  us,  Mr.  Belknap,"  said  Frank  ;  "  for  I 
want  you  to  learn  me  how  to  be  a  sailor,  so  I  can  fight  the  British, 
when  there's  another  war.  I  want  to  revenge  the  death  of  my 
poor  mother,  and  the  wrongs  of  my  father." 

u  How  her  loss  weighs  upon  us  all.  Hard  fate  !  Incurable 
injury  !  With  Mary  and  Henry,  I  should  have  nothing  to  wish 
for,"  said  Kane,  sadly. 

"  Wall  neow  that  are  is  a  rigger  for  a  scare-crow,  any  way  yeou 
can  fix  it,''  said  Ezekiel  Belknap,  pointing  to  a  man  who  was 
approaching  the  house  from  the  road. 

It  was  the  figure  of  a  person  still  young,  but  so  emaciated  !  His 
countenance  was  pale  and  haggard,  and  upon  every  lineament  was 
written  suffering  and  disappointment.  His  dress  was  ragged  and 
filthy,  and  altogether  he  verified  the  fidelity  of  Ezekiel's  com 
parison. 

Robert  Kane  courteously  invited  him  to  enter  the  house ;  but  he 
had  no  sooner  crossed  its  threshold,  than  Kane  started  back.  His 
glance  was  rivetted  upon  the  countenance  of  the  stranger,  while 
his  features  alternately  assumed  an  expression  of  severity  and 
compassion. 

'•  Lord  Melville  !  Can  it  be  possible  that  Lord  Melville  stands 
before  me  1" 

"  If  it  is,  there  must  be  a  new  pay  tent  of  nobility,"  said  Ezekiel 
Belknap  ;  "  for  I  never  seed  sich  a  figger  as  that  anywhere  but  in  a 
cornfield." 

"  You  see  before  you  one  who  thought  himself  Lord  Melville,  but 
who  was  not,"  replied  the  stranger,  ia  a  hollow  voice. 

"  And  who  are  you,  then  "?" 

"  Your  brother." 

"  My  brother"?  And  who  was  he  whom  we  all  thought  Christie 
Kane?" 

"  Lord  Melville." 

"  Brother  in  misfortune,  as  well  as  by  blood,  you  are  welcome/' 
said  Robert  Kane,  as  he  embraced  him. 

"I  do  not  deserve  this  kindness,"  replied  Christie  Kane,  as  he 
wiped  the  tears  from  his  eyes  ;  those  tears,  the  first  he  had  shed 
since  childhood. 

"  Why  not,  my  brother  V 

"  Have  you  forgotten  my  brutal  conduct  the  night  you  were  in 
the  hands  of  the  press-gang  ?" 

"  Oh  never  think  of  that;  it  is  all  forgiven." 

"  But  [  cannot  forget  it.  I  have  tried,  but  it  is  ineffaceably  im 
pressed  upon  my  mind.  I  have  wandered  over  the  United  States 
to  find  you,  for  I  heard  of  your  escape.  Miserably  clad,  often 
nearly  starved,  1  wandered  on  in  hopes  of  meeting  you  at  last  that 
1  might  have  the  privilege  of  asking  your  forgiveness  before  I  died. 
And° whenever  my  heart  failed  me,  and  I  was  ready  to  despair,  I 
thought  of  your  bleeding  face  and  stiffened  form,  and  as  I  beheld 


AND  AMERICAN  SLAVERY.  269 

them  that  night,  and  then  I  pressed  onward  once  more.  And  now 
1  have  found  you  ;  can  you  forgive — ?" 

"  All  !  everything  is  forgiven,  dear  brother,"  said  Robert,  throw 
ing  his  arms  around  his  neck. 

"  Then  for  the  first  time  in  six  years,  I  am  Jjappy — so  happy," 
said  Christie  Kane,  as  he  sunk  upon  a  sofa. 

"  But  you  are  hungry,  Christie,  I  am  sure,  for  you  look  so  pale." 

"  I  have  eaten  nothing  for  twenty-four  hours,  and  I  have  walked 
since  yesterday  morning  fifty  miles." 

"  Why  did  you  not  eat  ?  Thereis  not  a  house  within  fifty  miles 
of  this  place  that  a  hungry  person  could  not  have  obtained  food." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  I  could  not  eat.  I  ascertained  yesterday  morn 
ing  that  you  resided  here,  and  I  thought  of  nothing  but  of  seeing 
you." 

"  Poor  uncle,"  said  Dolly,  as  she  ran  to  the  kitchen,  to  tell  the 
housekeeper  to  set  the  table  instantly,  for  her  uncle  was  very  hun 
gry. 

"  And  now  your  wanderings  are  over,  for  you  will  always  remain 
with  us.'' 

"  This  is  indeed  a  lovely  spot,  and  one  calculated  to  make  me 
forget  what  I  have  lost,  if  anything  could,"  replied  Christie  Kane, 
despondingly. 

"  Your  loss  is  comparatively  trifling,  my  dear  brother,"  replied 
Robert  Kane.  "  You  have  lost  wealth,  but  what  is  that,  compared 
to  the  healthful  mind  and  frame  of  the  man  who  complies  with  the 
eternal  decree,  to  earn  his  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow  ?  You 
are  removed  from  the  circle  where  dissipation  corrupts  the  young 
and  prostrates  the  old,  but  you  will  gain  the  sweet  rest  of  content 
ment  and  peace.  You  have  lost  rank,  but  sti'l  there  is  within  your 
grasp  that  inestimable  jewel,  in  the  presence  of  which  pales  the  un 
substantial  privileges  of  created  rank — the  patent  of  nobility  upon 
which  nature  affixes  its  seal,  and  which,  guarded  by  honor,  bears 
the  indestructible  stamp  of  divine  approbation." 


THE  END. 


J^^^_ 

5^969^ 


.,,.— 4>4101 


235613 


